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In a massive blow to La Liga giants FC Barcelona’s quest for another league title, their star winger Lamine Yamal has picked up a hamstring injury and is out for the remainder of the season. However, the good news (for Spain) is that he is expected to be fit in time for the FIFA World Cup in North America, starting June 11.&nbsp;"Tests have confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has a hamstring injury in his left leg," Barcelona said. "The player will undergo conservative treatment. Lamine Yamal will miss the rest of the season and is expected to be available for the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19 this year."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The tests carried out have confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has a hamstring injury in his left leg (biceps femoris muscle). The player will follow a conservative treatment plan. Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of the season, and he is expected to be available… <a href="https://t.co/8UU4Bg9bDh">pic.twitter.com/8UU4Bg9bDh</a>&mdash; FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/2047281581853741126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-man-city-replace-arsenal-at-top-as-title-race-enters-last-five-matches-1776912141779">Premier League: Man City replace Arsenal at top as title race enters last five matches</a> &nbsp;Spain will open their WC campaign (in Group H) against Cape Verde on June 15 before taking on Saudi Arabia six days later on June 21 and finishing their pool game against former two-time winners, Uruguay, on June 27. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Yamal suffered the injury in Barcelona's 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo in La Liga on Wednesday (Apr 22). Yamal clinched the winner against Celta Vigo from the penalty spot, but the celebration was short-lived. After beating Ionut Radu with a clinical low strike, the teenager immediately clutched his left hamstring, prompting medical staff to rush the pitch. His teammates, however, continued to celebrate, with Barcelona replacing him with Roony Bardghji.&nbsp;Read more | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-world-cup-2026-italy-to-replace-iran-special-envoy-to-us-president-trump-suggests-swap-to-fifa-1776923026262">Football World Cup 2026 | Italy to replace Iran? Special envoy to US president Trump suggests swap to FIFA</a> &nbsp;At the end, the result saw Barcelona move nine points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table with six matches remaining, including an El Clásico on May 10.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Lamine Yamal is ruled out for the rest of the season! Following a hamstring injury against Celta Vigo, Barcelona’s star winger faces a race against time for the 2026 World Cup. Can Barça hold their lead without him?

In a massive blow to La Liga giants FC Barcelona’s quest for another league title, their star winger Lamine Yamal has picked up a hamstring injury and is out for the remainder of the season. However, the good news (for Spain) is that he is expected to be fit in time for the FIFA World Cup in North America, starting June 11. "Tests have confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has a hamstring injury in his left leg," Barcelona said. "The player will undergo conservative treatment. Lamine Yamal will miss the rest of the season and is expected to be available for the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19 this year."

Lamine Yamal is ruled out for the rest of the season! Following a hamstring injury against Celta Vigo, Barcelona’s star winger faces a race against time for the 2026 World Cup. Can Barça hold their lead without him?

Lamine Yamal out for remainder of season but likely to be fit for World Cup

Gary Kirsten knows a thing or two about rebuilding cricket teams into match-winning units, for example, MS Dhoni’s World Cup-winning ODI side and the famous South African team, which dominated cricket in the past decade. Since taking over as head coach, Kirsten faces his toughest challenge yet: reviving Sri Lankan cricket.&nbsp;Sri Lanka slumped to an early exit from the co-hosted T20 World Cup after failing to win a single match in the Super 8s, leaving fans and their cricket in disarray. Kirsten now has to revive their lost pride and put them back on the pedestal. But for that, he needs to do a few things.<h3>A team audit to begin with</h3>Since taking over in his new role on April 14, Kirsten has held a team audit to understand his players and see where they stand in world cricket. Appreciative of the talent his players possess, Kirsten said talent alone is not enough, and for anyone to become great, they must also have good work ethics and attitude.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kevin-pietersen-blasts-alastair-cook-in-row-over-jacob-bethell-ipl-future-rcb-ipl-2026-1776943998252">‘His opinion doesn’t matter’: Kevin Pietersen blasts Alastair Cook in row over Bethell’s IPL future</a> &nbsp;"The formula - we will progress as we go along," Gary said during an extensive Q/A round with the local media. "I have certainly been spending the first week doing a bit of a team audit, just to get to understand where everyone is at. You can't only rely on talent. You need a good work ethic and a good attitude."&nbsp; &nbsp;"For me, what's important around that is that we have a lot of depth in the group across the different formats. So you are able to rotate players when you need to. You can't expect one guy just to be playing all the time. He'll blow up quite quickly,” he continued.<h3>What excites Kirsten?</h3>Listen up, Sri Lankan cricketers and fans, the head coach Kirsten details what he’s most excited about looking forward to. &nbsp;"I think the next component to that is every team needs individuals in the team that are willing to step up and make those hard performances when the team needs it," he said. "And each team, when you've got a good group of those guys, they win games out of nowhere and perform when you really need it. Those are the individuals I'm really excited by. Now that's going to take time for me to understand and learn,” he continued.<h3>World Cup Preparation</h3>While Sri Lanka will travel to the Caribbean for a full-fledged tour in June, they will host the Men in Blue later in July-August. However, their greater goal is to win back the coveted crown – the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup trophy, scheduled in Africa in October next year, where the playing conditions would be different and challenging. &nbsp;Reflecting on helping the team and the nation realise its dream, Kirsten explained his blueprint for success. &nbsp;"It's going to be very different conditions to what a lot of the guys are used to, so how do we plan for that? It's about making sure all our bases are covered in the skillsets of the team," Kirsten said.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Do we have guys with great air speed? Do we have guys that can swing the ball? Do we have guys that can bowl with bounce? Do you have top spinners? And do you have six batters who can bat on those kinds of conditions?” he added.

New head coach Gary Kirsten unveils his "Team Audit" and blueprint to revive Sri Lankan Cricket. From 2027 World Cup prep to fixing player attitudes, here is how Kirsten plans to return the Lions to glory.

Gary Kirsten knows a thing or two about rebuilding cricket teams into match-winning units, for example, MS Dhoni’s World Cup-winning ODI side and the famous South African team, which dominated cricket in the past decade. Since taking over as head coach, Kirsten faces his toughest challenge yet: reviving Sri Lankan cricket. Sri Lanka slumped to an early exit from the co-hosted T20 World Cup after failing to win a single match in the Super 8s, leaving fans and their cricket in disarray. Kirsten now has to revive their lost pride and put them back on the pedestal. But for that, he needs to do a few things. A team audit to begin with Since taking over in his new role on April 14, Kirsten has held a team audit to understand his players and see where they stand in world cricket. Appreciative of the talent his players possess, Kirsten said talent alone is not enough, and for anyone to become great, they must also have good work ethics and attitude. Also read | ‘His opinion doesn’t matter’: Kevin Pietersen blasts Alastair Cook in row over Bethell’s IPL future "The formula - we will progress as we go along," Gary said during an extensive Q/A round with the local media. "I have certainly been spending the first week doing a bit of a team audit, just to get to understand where everyone is at. You can't only rely on talent. You need a good work ethic and a good attitude." "For me, what's important around that is that we have a lot of depth in the group across the different formats. So you are able to rotate players when you need to. You can't expect one guy just to be playing all the time. He'll blow up quite quickly,” he continued. What excites Kirsten? Listen up, Sri Lankan cricketers and fans, the head coach Kirsten details what he’s most excited about looking forward to. "I think the next component to that is every team needs individuals in the team that are willing to step up and make those hard performances when the team needs it," he said. "And each team, when you've got a good group of those guys, they win games out of nowhere and perform when you really need it. Those are the individuals I'm really excited by. Now that's going to take time for me to understand and learn,” he continued. World Cup Preparation While Sri Lanka will travel to the Caribbean for a full-fledged tour in June, they will host the Men in Blue later in July-August. However, their greater goal is to win back the coveted crown – the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup trophy, scheduled in Africa in October next year, where the playing conditions would be different and challenging. Reflecting on helping the team and the nation realise its dream, Kirsten explained his blueprint for success. "It's going to be very different conditions to what a lot of the guys are used to, so how do we plan for that? It's about making sure all our bases are covered in the skillsets of the team," Kirsten said. "Do we have guys with great air speed? Do we have guys that can swing the ball? Do we have guys that can bowl with bounce? Do you have top spinners? And do you have six batters who can bat on those kinds of conditions?” he added.

New head coach Gary Kirsten unveils his "Team Audit" and blueprint to revive Sri Lankan Cricket. From 2027 World Cup prep to fixing player attitudes, here is how Kirsten plans to return the Lions to glory.

The Kirsten Blueprint: Why attitude, and not just talent, is key to reviving Sri Lankan Cricket

Kevin Pietersen disagrees with his former England teammate and opener Alastair Cook over his opinion on Jacob Bethell wasting his time warming the RCB benches instead of plying his trade in the English County. Bethell is England’s brightest prospect, having impressed in the most challenging conditions and against the best of teams worldwide. While his maiden Test hundred during the SCG Ashes Test this year made headlines all over, his marathon knock against India in the T20 World Cup semis further cemented his place as among the first-team players across formats.&nbsp;Bethell is part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad this season but hasn’t featured in any of the six matches played so far. Even though it could be evidently frustrating for the 22-year-old, his fans and experts back home, who are waiting for him to unleash his T20 game, Pietersen has urged the future superstar to stay in India.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-when-will-starc-join-delhi-capitals-aussie-cleared-by-cricket-australia-to-play-1776930884394">IPL 2026 | Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc cleared by Cricket Australia to join Delhi Capitals</a> &nbsp;KP said that spending time with some of cricket's best players (at RCB) would help Bethell improve his game. &nbsp;Having played for RCB in the cash-rich league, KP has always been vocal about returning with a wealth of knowledge by just watching greater players like Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and even Anil Kumble train in the nets; he further urged the left-hander to learn as much as he can by rubbing shoulders with Virat Kohlis, Tim Davids and even Phil Salts.<h3>KP snubs Cook's views on Bethell</h3>Snapping Cook’s views (on why Bethell should consider returning and play for Warwickshire) on his social media on Thursday, KP wrote, “Alastair Cook has absolutely NO IDEA what it's like to be in the IPL. What's it's like to always be around the best players in the world. So his opinion on Jacob Bethell doesn't matter at all. Stay in India, Jacob. I know, even though you're not playing, you're learning and will be a way better player.👍🏻”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Alastair Cook has absolutely NO IDEA what it&#39;s like to be in the IPL. What&#39;s it&#39;s like to always be around the best players in the world. So his opinion on Jacob Bethell doesn&#39;t matter at all. Stay in India, Jacob. I know, even though you&#39;re not playing, you&#39;re learning and…&mdash; Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24/status/2047189262479585496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, Bethell also responded to Cook’s remarks on Wednesday, defending his call to stay with his IPL franchise while also describing the benefits of being available for his tournament. &nbsp;"It's something that not ​many people will understand how cool it is until actually being around a team or the tournament ‌itself ⁠when you're here," Bethell said in a chat with Sky Sports. "It just has a completely different feel. It feels like everyone almost ups their game subconsciously without even really knowing because of the calibre of the tournament. &nbsp;"I feel like that even happens when you're not on the starting XI or ​even starting XII as ​it might be now ⁠with the impact player,” he continued.

Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook clash over Jacob Bethell’s future. As Bethell sits out for RCB, KP urges the youngster to stay in India despite Cook's calls for a County Cricket return.

Kevin Pietersen disagrees with his former England teammate and opener Alastair Cook over his opinion on Jacob Bethell wasting his time warming the RCB benches instead of plying his trade in the English County. Bethell is England’s brightest prospect, having impressed in the most challenging conditions and against the best of teams worldwide. While his maiden Test hundred during the SCG Ashes Test this year made headlines all over, his marathon knock against India in the T20 World Cup semis further cemented his place as among the first-team players across formats. Bethell is part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad this season but hasn’t featured in any of the six matches played so far. Even though it could be evidently frustrating for the 22-year-old, his fans and experts back home, who are waiting for him to unleash his T20 game, Pietersen has urged the future superstar to stay in India. Also read | IPL 2026 | Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc cleared by Cricket Australia to join Delhi Capitals KP said that spending time with some of cricket's best players (at RCB) would help Bethell improve his game. Having played for RCB in the cash-rich league, KP has always been vocal about returning with a wealth of knowledge by just watching greater players like Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and even Anil Kumble train in the nets; he further urged the left-hander to learn as much as he can by rubbing shoulders with Virat Kohlis, Tim Davids and even Phil Salts. KP snubs Cook's views on Bethell Snapping Cook’s views (on why Bethell should consider returning and play for Warwickshire) on his social media on Thursday, KP wrote, “Alastair Cook has absolutely NO IDEA what it's like to be in the IPL. What's it's like to always be around the best players in the world. So his opinion on Jacob Bethell doesn't matter at all. Stay in India, Jacob. I know, even though you're not playing, you're learning and will be a way better player.👍🏻”

Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook clash over Jacob Bethell’s future. As Bethell sits out for RCB, KP urges the youngster to stay in India despite Cook's calls for a County Cricket return.

‘His opinion doesn’t matter’: Kevin Pietersen blasts Alastair Cook in row over Bethell’s IPL future

Five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have roped in Akash Madhwal as a replacement for injured Ayush Mhatre for the remainder of the season. Mhatre, ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 due to a hamstring injury, will now be replaced by Madhwal. The former Rajasthan Royals star is available for selection against another one of his former side Mumbai Indians, as CSK play the high-voltage clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.<h2>CSK announce Mhatre replacement</h2>Madhwal, a right-arm fast bowler, has previously represented the Mumbai Indians (MI) (2023, 2024) and the Rajasthan Royals (2025). He has featured in 17 IPL matches, picking up 23 wickets. He also has a five-wicket haul to his name, having recorded sensational figures of 5/5 in his debut season for MI in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Mhatre, India’s U19 World Cup-winning captain, made an impactful start to the season for CSK, scoring two fifties in six matches before suffering a left hamstring injury while batting in Match 27 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Madhwal joins CSK for a fee of INR 30 Lakh.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a><h2>MI vs CSK on the cards</h2>The MI and CSK, two five-time IPL-winning teams, filled with superstars to the brim, will be taking on each other in the high-octane contest at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, but the recent trends suggest that the biggest rivalry in the IPL could be losing the big-match feel and lustre attached to it.&nbsp;MI would be brimming with confidence heading into the home clash against CSK following a sensational bowling performance and a century by Tilak Varma under pressure against the Gujarat Titans (GT), which earned them their second win of the season, while CSK will be aiming to get back to winning after a 10-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), which was their fourth of the season.

The former Rajasthan Royals star Akash Madhwal is available for selection against another one of his former side Mumbai Indians, as CSK play the high-voltage clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have roped in Akash Madhwal as a replacement for injured Ayush Mhatre for the remainder of the season. Mhatre, ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 due to a hamstring injury, will now be replaced by Madhwal. The former Rajasthan Royals star is available for selection against another one of his former side Mumbai Indians, as CSK play the high-voltage clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. CSK announce Mhatre replacement Madhwal, a right-arm fast bowler, has previously represented the Mumbai Indians (MI) (2023, 2024) and the Rajasthan Royals (2025). He has featured in 17 IPL matches, picking up 23 wickets. He also has a five-wicket haul to his name, having recorded sensational figures of 5/5 in his debut season for MI in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Mhatre, India’s U19 World Cup-winning captain, made an impactful start to the season for CSK, scoring two fifties in six matches before suffering a left hamstring injury while batting in Match 27 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Madhwal joins CSK for a fee of INR 30 Lakh. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL MI vs CSK on the cards The MI and CSK, two five-time IPL-winning teams, filled with superstars to the brim, will be taking on each other in the high-octane contest at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, but the recent trends suggest that the biggest rivalry in the IPL could be losing the big-match feel and lustre attached to it. MI would be brimming with confidence heading into the home clash against CSK following a sensational bowling performance and a century by Tilak Varma under pressure against the Gujarat Titans (GT), which earned them their second win of the season, while CSK will be aiming to get back to winning after a 10-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), which was their fourth of the season.

The former Rajasthan Royals star Akash Madhwal is available for selection against another one of his former side Mumbai Indians, as CSK play the high-voltage clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

IPL 2026: CSK rope in Akash Madhwal as a replacement for injured Ayush Mhatre ahead of MI clash

In a boost to Delhi Capitals, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has been cleared by Cricket Australia to play the IPL 2026 after recovering from injuries. Strac is expected to link with the DC squad soon and is most likely to pay his first match for the franchise in the ongoing season on May 1. Strac has not played competitive cricket from late January this year when he helped Australia win home Ashes 4-1 against England. Starc was named Player of the Series for 31 wickets in 10 innings and immediately turned up for Sydney Sixes in Big Bash League (BBL) before being sidelined with injuries.<h2>When will Starc join Delhi Capitals?</h2>Having recovered from shoulder and elbow injuries, Starc is expected to fly out immediately and link up with the squad. He can play his first match in the IPL 2026 as soon as May 1. There were speculations when Starc didn't join DC at the start of the season which is clarified in a social medial post. His presence will definitely boost DC's strength which are struggling at the moment with three losses in last four matches after winning the first two games of the season. His fitness is also a sigh of relief for Cricket Australia which are scheduled to play 20 Tests over the next 18 months before ODI World Cup 2027 in October-November.<h2>How have DC performed in IPL 2026?</h2>Delhi started the season with a six-wicket victory against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their season opener on April 1. In the next match on April 4, DC beat Mumbai Indians, also by six wickets. The Capitals then lost a thriller against Gujarat Titans on April 8 by one run. In the fourth match, Chennai Super Kings beat DC by 23 runs on April 11. DC managed to beat RCB by six wickets on April 18 before losing against SunRisers Hyderabad by 47 runs in their last match.They have two more matches this month before Starc could join them - against Punjab Kings on April 25 and against RCB on April 27.

Strac has not played competitive cricket from late January this year when he helped Australia win home Ashes 4-1 against England. He is expected to fly out soon and can play for DC as soon as May 1.

In a boost to Delhi Capitals, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has been cleared by Cricket Australia to play the IPL 2026 after recovering from injuries. Strac is expected to link with the DC squad soon and is most likely to pay his first match for the franchise in the ongoing season on May 1. Strac has not played competitive cricket from late January this year when he helped Australia win home Ashes 4-1 against England. Starc was named Player of the Series for 31 wickets in 10 innings and immediately turned up for Sydney Sixes in Big Bash League (BBL) before being sidelined with injuries. When will Starc join Delhi Capitals? Having recovered from shoulder and elbow injuries, Starc is expected to fly out immediately and link up with the squad. He can play his first match in the IPL 2026 as soon as May 1. There were speculations when Starc didn't join DC at the start of the season which is clarified in a social medial post. His presence will definitely boost DC's strength which are struggling at the moment with three losses in last four matches after winning the first two games of the season. His fitness is also a sigh of relief for Cricket Australia which are scheduled to play 20 Tests over the next 18 months before ODI World Cup 2027 in October-November. How have DC performed in IPL 2026? Delhi started the season with a six-wicket victory against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their season opener on April 1. In the next match on April 4, DC beat Mumbai Indians, also by six wickets. The Capitals then lost a thriller against Gujarat Titans on April 8 by one run. In the fourth match, Chennai Super Kings beat DC by 23 runs on April 11. DC managed to beat RCB by six wickets on April 18 before losing against SunRisers Hyderabad by 47 runs in their last match. They have two more matches this month before Starc could join them - against Punjab Kings on April 25 and against RCB on April 27.

Strac has not played competitive cricket from late January this year when he helped Australia win home Ashes 4-1 against England. Starc was named Player of the Series for 31 wickets in 10 innings and immediately turned up for Sydney Sixes in Big Bash League (BBL) before being sidelined.

IPL 2026 | Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc cleared by Cricket Australia to join Delhi Capitals

McLaren driver and defending Formula 1 champion Lando Norris says that it will 'a shame' if Red Bull driver and four-time world champion Max Verstappen quits the sport. The comments come after Verstappen's admission that 'he will quit' if didn't enjoy. The Red Bull phenom has been vocal about how new F1 2026 rules, which have made it mandatory for nearly 50 percent of car's energy to be electric, have made it difficult and boring for the drivers. The F1 management, however, made some tweaks to the rules to address drivers' discontentment and safety concerns.<h2>Norris hopeful of Verstappen continuing in F1</h2>With three races done, the rule tweaks will come into the force before Miami Grand Prix on May 3 and Norris, who is fifth on the drivers' standings, hopes Verstappen, ninth on the table, will come good and make a run for the championship.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-are-new-f1-rule-changes-following-drivers-discontentment-and-safety-concerns-1776749478170">F1 tweaks rules following drivers' discontentment and safety concerns</a>"Hopefully things get better and I just saw that he said he wants to win the fifth world championship at the minute, so I’m sure he’ll stay longer than people say," Norris said.“It would be a shame for the sport, it would be a miss for the sport if that does happen because he probably is one of the best drivers you’ll see in Formula One ever."It would be a shame for us because as much as he makes our lives incredibly tough at times, he’s always good fun to race against and it’s always cool to race against someone that’s won four world championships. You always feel like you want to race against the best in the world and he certainly is one of them, so it would be a loss for the sport."<h2>How has Verstappen performed so far in the season?</h2>The Red Bull driver finished sixth in the season opening race in Australian Grand Prix before failing to finish the race at Chinese Grand Prix. At Suzuka in Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen finished eighth with next two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia getting cancelled because of ongoing conflict in the West Asia.

The Red Bull phenom has been vocal about how new F1 2026 rules, which have made it mandatory for nearly 50 percent of car's energy to be electric, have made it difficult and boring for the drivers. The F1 management, however, made some tweaks to the rules to address drivers' discontentment.

McLaren driver and defending Formula 1 champion Lando Norris says that it will 'a shame' if Red Bull driver and four-time world champion Max Verstappen quits the sport. The comments come after Verstappen's admission that 'he will quit' if didn't enjoy. The Red Bull phenom has been vocal about how new F1 2026 rules, which have made it mandatory for nearly 50 percent of car's energy to be electric, have made it difficult and boring for the drivers. The F1 management, however, made some tweaks to the rules to address drivers' discontentment and safety concerns. Norris hopeful of Verstappen continuing in F1 With three races done, the rule tweaks will come into the force before Miami Grand Prix on May 3 and Norris, who is fifth on the drivers' standings, hopes Verstappen, ninth on the table, will come good and make a run for the championship. Also Read - F1 tweaks rules following drivers' discontentment and safety concerns "Hopefully things get better and I just saw that he said he wants to win the fifth world championship at the minute, so I’m sure he’ll stay longer than people say," Norris said. “It would be a shame for the sport, it would be a miss for the sport if that does happen because he probably is one of the best drivers you’ll see in Formula One ever. "It would be a shame for us because as much as he makes our lives incredibly tough at times, he’s always good fun to race against and it’s always cool to race against someone that’s won four world championships. You always feel like you want to race against the best in the world and he certainly is one of them, so it would be a loss for the sport." How has Verstappen performed so far in the season? The Red Bull driver finished sixth in the season opening race in Australian Grand Prix before failing to finish the race at Chinese Grand Prix. At Suzuka in Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen finished eighth with next two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia getting cancelled because of ongoing conflict in the West Asia.

The Red Bull phenom has been vocal about how new F1 2026 rules, which have made it mandatory for nearly 50 percent of car's energy to be electric, have made it difficult and boring for the drivers. The F1 management, however, made some tweaks to the rules to address drivers' discontentment.

F1 2026 | Defending champion Lando Norris says Verstappen quitting 'would be shame for sport'

The drama before FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to unfold with less than two months to go for the scheduled start of the 48-team tournament on Jun 12. The situation between Iran and the US, co-host of the tournament along with Mexico, and Canada, continues to be tense. The geopolitical situation has prompted a special envoy to US president Donald Trump to replace Iran with Italy. Notably, four-time champions Italy have failed to qualify for the multi-nation tournament after losing the qualifiers. Iran, meanwhile, has been uncertain about participating in the tournament which involved travelling to the US for the group-stage games.<h2>Will Italy replace Iran at the FIFA World Cup 2026?</h2>As per report by Financial Times on Wednesday (Apr 22), US special envoy Paolo Zampolli has confirmed requesting Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino to replace Iran with Italy at the upcoming football world cup 2026.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/churchill-downs-buy-preakness-ip-rights-in-historic-85-million-deal-what-it-means-for-triple-crown-1776838548368">Churchill Downs buys Preakness IP rights in historic $85 million deal</a>"I confirm I have suggested to Trump and [Fifa president Gianni] Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,” said Zampolli to FT.The suggestions comes as way to mend fences between Trump and Italian president Georgia Meloni after the fallout between the two country heads following the US presidents comments of Pope Leo XIV on Iran war.<h2>Will Iran play in FIFA World Cup 2026?</h2>Amid the ongoing tensions, Iran has said that they are not willing to travel to the US for their Group G matches. Iran's comments came after Trump said the Middle Eastern nation 'should not travel to the US for their own safety.' FIFA chief Infantino, meanwhile, has showed confidence on Iran participating in the tournament.Iran is scheduled to play their first Group G game against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 27.

Notably, four-time champions Italy have failed to qualify for the multi-nation tournament after losing the qualifiers. Iran, meanwhile, has been uncertain about participating in the tournament which involved travelling to the US for the group-stage games.

The drama before FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to unfold with less than two months to go for the scheduled start of the 48-team tournament on Jun 12. The situation between Iran and the US, co-host of the tournament along with Mexico, and Canada, continues to be tense. The geopolitical situation has prompted a special envoy to US president Donald Trump to replace Iran with Italy. Notably, four-time champions Italy have failed to qualify for the multi-nation tournament after losing the qualifiers. Iran, meanwhile, has been uncertain about participating in the tournament which involved travelling to the US for the group-stage games. Will Italy replace Iran at the FIFA World Cup 2026? As per report by Financial Times on Wednesday (Apr 22), US special envoy Paolo Zampolli has confirmed requesting Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino to replace Iran with Italy at the upcoming football world cup 2026. Also Read - Churchill Downs buys Preakness IP rights in historic $85 million deal "I confirm I have suggested to Trump and [Fifa president Gianni] Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,” said Zampolli to FT. The suggestions comes as way to mend fences between Trump and Italian president Georgia Meloni after the fallout between the two country heads following the US presidents comments of Pope Leo XIV on Iran war. Will Iran play in FIFA World Cup 2026? Amid the ongoing tensions, Iran has said that they are not willing to travel to the US for their Group G matches. Iran's comments came after Trump said the Middle Eastern nation 'should not travel to the US for their own safety.' FIFA chief Infantino, meanwhile, has showed confidence on Iran participating in the tournament. Iran is scheduled to play their first Group G game against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 27.

Notably, four-time champions Italy have failed to qualify for the multi-nation tournament after losing the qualifiers. Iran, meanwhile, has been uncertain about participating in the tournament which involved travelling to the US for the group-stage games.

Football World Cup 2026 | Italy to replace Iran? Special envoy to US president Trump suggests swap to FIFA

Rajasthan Royals started the IPL 2026 with four back-to-back wins and are currently second on the points table with 10 points from five wins from seven matches. Skipper Riyan Parag, however, hasn't been in best of the form, scoring just 81 runs in seven innings at an average of 13.50. In the match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Parag scored 20 but failed capitalise on the start, but he feels that a big innings isn't far away. The team would also hope for the skipper get among runs if they are to go do distance in the tournament.<h2>Parag reveals reason behind batting failure</h2>"I've been going through a phase as well. Right before the IPL, I had gone through something, and even now I'm going through something and everyone understands that. Everyone respects that, and I thank them for that," revealed the skipper after the 40-run win against LSG.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-in-league-of-his-own-how-abhishek-surpassed-every-other-batter-with-135-not-out-for-srh-vs-dc-1776846317771">'In league of his own': How Abhishek surpassed every other batter with 135 not out for SRH vs DC</a>"I feel the way I'm batting [a big] innings is not not too far away, but, as I've been saying, if I go in tomorrow and I play another game, it's going to be what the team needs. It's not me not scoring runs and taking my time, getting 40 off 30, that's not going to happen. I go out there, assess conditions; if they want me to go to 200 from ball one, I do that," he added.<h2>RR defend lowest total of IPL 2026</h2>The IPL 2026 season has been all about batting big with most teams scoring 200+ totals, RR defended 160-run target against LSG - the lowest of the season. The credit goes to their frontline bowlers, removing three of four top order batters for a duck. RR bowled with discipline, visible in LSG scorecard with only three batters getting to double-figure mark including opener Mitchell Marsh who top scored with 55.

RR skipper Riyan Parag hasn't been in best of the form, scoring just 81 runs in seven innings at an average of 13.50. In the match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Parag scored 20 but failed capitalise on the start, but he feels that a big innings isn't far away.

Rajasthan Royals started the IPL 2026 with four back-to-back wins and are currently second on the points table with 10 points from five wins from seven matches. Skipper Riyan Parag, however, hasn't been in best of the form, scoring just 81 runs in seven innings at an average of 13.50. In the match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Parag scored 20 but failed capitalise on the start, but he feels that a big innings isn't far away. The team would also hope for the skipper get among runs if they are to go do distance in the tournament. Parag reveals reason behind batting failure "I've been going through a phase as well. Right before the IPL, I had gone through something, and even now I'm going through something and everyone understands that. Everyone respects that, and I thank them for that," revealed the skipper after the 40-run win against LSG. Also Read - 'In league of his own': How Abhishek surpassed every other batter with 135 not out for SRH vs DC "I feel the way I'm batting [a big] innings is not not too far away, but, as I've been saying, if I go in tomorrow and I play another game, it's going to be what the team needs. It's not me not scoring runs and taking my time, getting 40 off 30, that's not going to happen. I go out there, assess conditions; if they want me to go to 200 from ball one, I do that," he added. RR defend lowest total of IPL 2026 The IPL 2026 season has been all about batting big with most teams scoring 200+ totals, RR defended 160-run target against LSG - the lowest of the season. The credit goes to their frontline bowlers, removing three of four top order batters for a duck. RR bowled with discipline, visible in LSG scorecard with only three batters getting to double-figure mark including opener Mitchell Marsh who top scored with 55.

RR skipper Riyan Parag hasn't been in best of the form, scoring just 81 runs in seven innings at an average of 13.50. In the match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Parag scored 20 but failed capitalise on the start, but he feels that a big innings isn't far away.

IPL 2026 | 'Going through something': RR skipper Riyan Parag reveals reason of his poor batting form

Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 40 runs in Lucknow on Wednesday (Apr 22) in IPL 2026. Chasing a below bar 160-run target, LSG suffered another batting failure as they were bowled out for 119 in 18 overs. The win snapped RR's two-loss streak and gave them fifth win in seven games. RR are now second on points table with 10 points from seven matches while LSG slid to ninth place with just four points in seven games from two wins and fifth loss - last of which came against Royals.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-in-league-of-his-own-how-abhishek-surpassed-every-other-batter-with-135-not-out-for-srh-vs-dc-1776846317771">'In league of his own': How Abhishek surpassed every batter with 135 not out</a><h2>LSG batting fails again in modest chase</h2>LSG's chase was rocked in the first over itself with a brilliant piece of fielding as Ayush Badoni was sent back for a duck. The next two overs saw skipper Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram also were dismissed, on duck just like Badoni, as LSG became 11/3 and finished the powerplay at 31/3. Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh then added 43 runs for the fourth wicket before Ravindra Jadeja broke the partnership with Pooran's (22) wicket. Marsh then added 37 runs with Himmat Singh (15) to take LSG past 100 before Ravi Bishnoi came in a broke the stand with Singh's wicket in 15th over.Marsh, who scored a fighting 55 off 41 balls, was sent back Nandre Burger in the next over, effective ending the chase for LSG. At 111/6 and needed 49 runs in last four overs, Mukul Choudhary was the last hope but he was dismissed on the first ball of death overs (16-20) and from there, LSG were dismissed for 119 in the next two overs, losing fourth match on the trot.<h2>Royals rescued by Ravindra Jadeja</h2>Rajasthan Royals had a decent start of the innings, 32/0 in 2.4 overs before Mohammed Shami removed Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) and Dhruv Jurel (0) on consecutive balls. Mohsin Khan then bowled a wicket-maiden to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and RR suddenly were 32/3 in 32/0. The wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals after that with Jadeja playing anchor, scoring 43 not out off 29 balls and took the teams to 159/6 in 20 overs.

Chasing a below bar 160-run target, LSG suffered another batting failure as they were bowled out for 119 in 18 overs. The win snapped RR's two-loss streak and gave them fifth win in seven games. LSG, meanwhile, slid to 9th place with just four points in 7 games from two wins and five losses.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 40 runs in Lucknow on Wednesday (Apr 22) in IPL 2026. Chasing a below bar 160-run target, LSG suffered another batting failure as they were bowled out for 119 in 18 overs. The win snapped RR's two-loss streak and gave them fifth win in seven games. RR are now second on points table with 10 points from seven matches while LSG slid to ninth place with just four points in seven games from two wins and fifth loss - last of which came against Royals. Also Read - 'In league of his own': How Abhishek surpassed every batter with 135 not out LSG batting fails again in modest chase LSG's chase was rocked in the first over itself with a brilliant piece of fielding as Ayush Badoni was sent back for a duck. The next two overs saw skipper Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram also were dismissed, on duck just like Badoni, as LSG became 11/3 and finished the powerplay at 31/3. Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh then added 43 runs for the fourth wicket before Ravindra Jadeja broke the partnership with Pooran's (22) wicket. Marsh then added 37 runs with Himmat Singh (15) to take LSG past 100 before Ravi Bishnoi came in a broke the stand with Singh's wicket in 15th over. Marsh, who scored a fighting 55 off 41 balls, was sent back Nandre Burger in the next over, effective ending the chase for LSG. At 111/6 and needed 49 runs in last four overs, Mukul Choudhary was the last hope but he was dismissed on the first ball of death overs (16-20) and from there, LSG were dismissed for 119 in the next two overs, losing fourth match on the trot. Royals rescued by Ravindra Jadeja Rajasthan Royals had a decent start of the innings, 32/0 in 2.4 overs before Mohammed Shami removed Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) and Dhruv Jurel (0) on consecutive balls. Mohsin Khan then bowled a wicket-maiden to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and RR suddenly were 32/3 in 32/0. The wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals after that with Jadeja playing anchor, scoring 43 not out off 29 balls and took the teams to 159/6 in 20 overs.

Chasing a below bar 160-run target, LSG suffered another batting failure as they were bowled out for 119 in 18 overs. The win snapped RR's two-loss streak and gave them fifth win in seven games. LSG, meanwhile, slid to 9th place with just four points in 7 games from two wins and five losses.

Who won yesterday's IPL 2026 match between Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants? check result

Manchester City edged ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League as a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor condemned Burnley to relegation on Wednesday. The defeat confirmed the Clarets' third Premier League relegation in five seasons, consigning them to the Championship alongside Wolves next season. Erling Haaland scored the only goal as Pep Guardiola's men ended the day top of the table for the first time since August, but the City boss was frustrated at his side's inability to win by a greater margin. City go ahead of the Gunners only on goals scored, with five games left for both the title contenders.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-tough-for-tournament-sinner-not-happy-with-alcaraz-withdrawing-from-madrid-open-1776835810362">'Tough for tournament', says Sinner on Alcaraz withdrawing from Madrid Open</a>"The chances were there. We created a lot. We made a fantastic game," said Guardiola. "We did everything after a demanding game three days ago."However, City have on paper the tougher run-in as they aim to snatch a seventh league title in nine years.Fresh from beating Arsenal 2-1 in what was billed as a title decider on Sunday, the visitors roared out of the blocks.A stunning save by Martin Dubravka turned Rayan Cherki's shot onto the woodwork.Haaland was then set free by Jeremy Doku and coolly chipped over the advancing Dubravka with just five minutes on the clock.City continued to pepper Dubravka with efforts from distance, but Guardiola grew visibly angry as they let the tempo drop in their pursuit of more goals.Burnley could even have been level by half-time as Zian Flemming dragged a glorious chance wide.Haaland hit the post after the break, but City's failure to rack up a more convincing scoreline leaves the title race tantalisingly poised.<h2>‘Fallen a bit short’</h2>At the other end of the table, Burnley have to rebuild once more in the second tier.A return of just 20 points from 34 games has left Scott Parker's men 13 adrift of safety with only four games remaining."We've fallen a bit short. The facts are we had to overachieve this year and we've not mananged to do that," said Parker."In certain moments we've lacked a certain quality about us and not managed to get enough points."It is the fifth consecutive season that Burnley have either been relegated or promoted as they oscillate between the riches of the Premier League and the Championship.Three wins from their opening nine games offered hope that they could join Sunderland and Leeds in bucking the trend of promoted sides being immediately relegated back to the second tier.However, just one win in their 25 matches since has sealed their fate.Parker has become a Championship specialist, also winning promotion in the past with Fulham and Bournemouth.But the former Tottenham and Chelsea midfielder has consistently struggled at all three clubs to make an impact in the Premier League.Bournemouth's challenge to qualify for Europe for the first time was dented by Sean Longstaff's 97th-minute equaliser for Leeds in a 2-2 draw.Junior Kroupi's opener for Bournemouth was quickly cancelled out by a James Hill own goal.Rayan's strike had the Cherries on course for the top six until Longstaff's volleyed leveller.A point edges Bournemouth above Chelsea, who sacked Liam Rosenior on Wednesday, into seventh.Leeds are now nine points clear of the relegation zone.

City go ahead of the Gunners only on goals scored, with five games left for both the title contenders. However, City have on paper the tougher run-in as they aim to snatch a seventh league title in nine years.

Manchester City edged ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League as a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor condemned Burnley to relegation on Wednesday. The defeat confirmed the Clarets' third Premier League relegation in five seasons, consigning them to the Championship alongside Wolves next season. Erling Haaland scored the only goal as Pep Guardiola's men ended the day top of the table for the first time since August, but the City boss was frustrated at his side's inability to win by a greater margin. City go ahead of the Gunners only on goals scored, with five games left for both the title contenders. Also Read - 'Tough for tournament', says Sinner on Alcaraz withdrawing from Madrid Open "The chances were there. We created a lot. We made a fantastic game," said Guardiola. "We did everything after a demanding game three days ago." However, City have on paper the tougher run-in as they aim to snatch a seventh league title in nine years. Fresh from beating Arsenal 2-1 in what was billed as a title decider on Sunday, the visitors roared out of the blocks. A stunning save by Martin Dubravka turned Rayan Cherki's shot onto the woodwork. Haaland was then set free by Jeremy Doku and coolly chipped over the advancing Dubravka with just five minutes on the clock. City continued to pepper Dubravka with efforts from distance, but Guardiola grew visibly angry as they let the tempo drop in their pursuit of more goals. Burnley could even have been level by half-time as Zian Flemming dragged a glorious chance wide. Haaland hit the post after the break, but City's failure to rack up a more convincing scoreline leaves the title race tantalisingly poised. ‘Fallen a bit short’ At the other end of the table, Burnley have to rebuild once more in the second tier. A return of just 20 points from 34 games has left Scott Parker's men 13 adrift of safety with only four games remaining. "We've fallen a bit short. The facts are we had to overachieve this year and we've not mananged to do that," said Parker. "In certain moments we've lacked a certain quality about us and not managed to get enough points." It is the fifth consecutive season that Burnley have either been relegated or promoted as they oscillate between the riches of the Premier League and the Championship. Three wins from their opening nine games offered hope that they could join Sunderland and Leeds in bucking the trend of promoted sides being immediately relegated back to the second tier. However, just one win in their 25 matches since has sealed their fate. Parker has become a Championship specialist, also winning promotion in the past with Fulham and Bournemouth. But the former Tottenham and Chelsea midfielder has consistently struggled at all three clubs to make an impact in the Premier League. Bournemouth's challenge to qualify for Europe for the first time was dented by Sean Longstaff's 97th-minute equaliser for Leeds in a 2-2 draw. Junior Kroupi's opener for Bournemouth was quickly cancelled out by a James Hill own goal. Rayan's strike had the Cherries on course for the top six until Longstaff's volleyed leveller. A point edges Bournemouth above Chelsea, who sacked Liam Rosenior on Wednesday, into seventh. Leeds are now nine points clear of the relegation zone.

City go ahead of the Gunners only on goals scored, with five games left for both the title contenders. However, City have on paper the tougher run-in as they aim to snatch a seventh league title in nine years.

Premier League: Man City replace Arsenal at top as title race enters last five matches

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are all set to resume their rivalry against Mumbai Indians (MI) as they take on their arch-rivals for the first meeting of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season on Thursday (April 23). Playing at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the contest will showcase some of the greats of the game. However, the focus will also be on young players who are trying to make a mark on the biggest stage of all.&nbsp;One of the names is CSK’s Fearless prodigy Prashant Veer, who became the highest-paid non-capped IPL player from India. The five-time champions paid a whopping INR 14.20 crore during the IPL 2026 auction, making him one of the highest-paid players in the competition’s history. Speaking on the JioStar show, ‘Dream On,’ Prashant opened up on his journey and where his dream began.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Question: Prashant, tell us about your cricket journey. How did it start? At what age did it start? And how did you move forward?I have been playing cricket since 2017. My cricket journey started in Amethi, my hometown. I played cricket there for a few days. Then I left Amethi and came to Saharanpur. I started playing cricket there. Then I practiced with SPBA Cricket Academy's Rajiv Goyal for 6-7 years. I have been playing cricket since 2017. Everyone in the village is fond of tennis balls.&nbsp;Question: Your batting is very aggressive. There is a lot of attacking. Tell us something about that. Did you always start your career with top-order batting or did you play back and forth in each group?Earlier, I used to bat in the top order. I always liked to attack, so I used to hit lifts. When I became a senior and grew up, I understood things and I set my order accordingly. I started batting in the lower order. I don't even get a chance because the place is already fixed. Wherever I get a chance, I can play anywhere.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Question: Tell us about your cricketing idol. Who have you idolized since childhood? Who is your current idol?My idol is Yuvraj Singh. I have been following him since childhood. He used to bat lefty. I used to bat lefty. He was a left-hand spinner. I follow him. He is like Stokes. I get motivated when I see him. I learn from him and one thing I like is his mental state. How did he come back after the WC, having suffered from cancer?&nbsp;Question: Did you get a chance to meet Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma?No, I haven't met them. I have got my brothers, Rinku and Bhuvibhai. Bhuvi keeps teaching me things, so I learn everything. And Nitish was the captain of Noida Kings. Nitish and I keep talking about cricket.

One of the names is CSK’s Prashant Veer, who became the highest-paid non-capped IPL player from India. The five-time champions paid a whopping INR 14.20 crore during the IPL 2026 auction, making him one of the highest-paid players in the competition’s history. 

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are all set to resume their rivalry against Mumbai Indians (MI) as they take on their arch-rivals for the first meeting of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season on Thursday (April 23). Playing at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the contest will showcase some of the greats of the game. However, the focus will also be on young players who are trying to make a mark on the biggest stage of all. One of the names is CSK’s Fearless prodigy Prashant Veer, who became the highest-paid non-capped IPL player from India. The five-time champions paid a whopping INR 14.20 crore during the IPL 2026 auction, making him one of the highest-paid players in the competition’s history. Speaking on the JioStar show, ‘Dream On,’ Prashant opened up on his journey and where his dream began. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Question: Prashant, tell us about your cricket journey. How did it start? At what age did it start? And how did you move forward? I have been playing cricket since 2017. My cricket journey started in Amethi, my hometown. I played cricket there for a few days. Then I left Amethi and came to Saharanpur. I started playing cricket there. Then I practiced with SPBA Cricket Academy's Rajiv Goyal for 6-7 years. I have been playing cricket since 2017. Everyone in the village is fond of tennis balls. Question: Your batting is very aggressive. There is a lot of attacking. Tell us something about that. Did you always start your career with top-order batting or did you play back and forth in each group? Earlier, I used to bat in the top order. I always liked to attack, so I used to hit lifts. When I became a senior and grew up, I understood things and I set my order accordingly. I started batting in the lower order. I don't even get a chance because the place is already fixed. Wherever I get a chance, I can play anywhere. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Question: Tell us about your cricketing idol. Who have you idolized since childhood? Who is your current idol? My idol is Yuvraj Singh. I have been following him since childhood. He used to bat lefty. I used to bat lefty. He was a left-hand spinner. I follow him. He is like Stokes. I get motivated when I see him. I learn from him and one thing I like is his mental state. How did he come back after the WC, having suffered from cancer? Question: Did you get a chance to meet Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma? No, I haven't met them. I have got my brothers, Rinku and Bhuvibhai. Bhuvi keeps teaching me things, so I learn everything. And Nitish was the captain of Noida Kings. Nitish and I keep talking about cricket.

One of the names is CSK’s Prashant Veer, who became the highest-paid non-capped IPL player from India. The five-time champions paid a whopping INR 14.20 crore during the IPL 2026 auction, making him one of the highest-paid players in the competition’s history.&nbsp;

Untold tales of IPL 2026 | 'Yuvraj Singh is my idol': CSK rising star Prashant Veer

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant had no answers to his side’s shallow performance against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday (Apr 22) in IPL 2026. Conceding their fourth straight loss this season has pushed LSG down to ninth position on the points table, with five defeats in seven contested matches. Chasing a moderate 160 at home, Lucknow got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets, including Pant on a second-ball duck, inside the first three overs; eventually surrendering by 40 runs in a lop-sided show.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A clinical bowling display to defend the lowest total this season 😯<a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rajasthanroyals</a> get back to winning ways with a 40-run victory 👏 Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/5SaPY8wfsc">https://t.co/5SaPY8wfsc</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KhelBindaas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KhelBindaas</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LSGvRR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LSGvRR</a> <a href="https://t.co/xv53u4tQVg">pic.twitter.com/xv53u4tQVg</a>&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/2047014314989760808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I don't have answers. Batting has let us down. We are disappointed as a team, as a group,” Pant said of his team’s loss against RR.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-rajasthan-inflict-more-misery-on-lucknow-as-hosts-remain-winless-after-third-consecutive-home-defeat-1776879637970">IPL 2026: Rajasthan inflict more misery on Lucknow as hosts remain winless after third consecutive home defeat</a> &nbsp;LSG bowled first after winning the toss, with ace quick Mohammed Shami doing the early damage with two quick wickets. Mohsin Khan, bowling the third over, did an unthinkable, by sending six dot balls against the dangerous Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, later removing him on the final delivery on a rare single digit score (8).&nbsp; &nbsp;While the wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Ravindra Jadeja stood his ground and scored an unbeaten yet valuable 49 to help his team post 159 for six in 20 overs. &nbsp;LSG never got going in the run chase. Despite a change at the top, they failed to click against the new ball, with RR seamers reducing them to 11 for three inside the Powerplay, and 54/4 in the 10th over. Spiritless batting in the middle overs pushed them down and out of the chase, with RR winning by 40 runs. &nbsp;“You have to look for answers inside, not outside. We could have taken some time while batting. No excuses out there. Including myself, we could have taken it deeper. As a batting group, we have to put our hands up. [Bowling] We have to look at the positives. We have to keep our heads high and look for answers inside. We have the firepower to turn the season around. Thanks for being soft today [to the commentators],” Pant continued.

I don’t have answers’: Rishabh Pant reacts as LSG slips to ninth after a fourth straight IPL 2026 defeat. Read the full analysis of the loss to RR.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant had no answers to his side’s shallow performance against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday (Apr 22) in IPL 2026. Conceding their fourth straight loss this season has pushed LSG down to ninth position on the points table, with five defeats in seven contested matches. Chasing a moderate 160 at home, Lucknow got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets, including Pant on a second-ball duck, inside the first three overs; eventually surrendering by 40 runs in a lop-sided show.

I don’t have answers’: Rishabh Pant reacts as LSG slips to ninth after a fourth straight IPL 2026 defeat. Read the full analysis of the loss to RR.

‘Batting let us down, I don’t have answers’: Pant reflects on LSG’s fourth straight defeat in IPL 2026

Both the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will leave it late on the matchday (April 23) to decide on the selections of their respective marquee players, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. The uncertainty surrounding their potential comebacks will remain under wraps until the toss time on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.&nbsp;While Rohit is sidelined with a hamstring injury, MS has yet to feature this season, recovering from a calf strain. The respective team doctors are monitoring the two. However, the two were part of their side’s training sessions at the venue on the match eve, putting in hard yards in the hope of attaining full fitness in time for the game. &nbsp;After missing CSK’s last six matches, MS Dhoni has travelled with the squad to Mumbai for the second consecutive time, while keeping wickets during Tuesday’s training. The next day, he was the first to hit the nets.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beyond-the-boundary-how-ms-dhoni-earned-the-uniform-respect-army-veteran-explains-lt-gen-vinod-bhatia-dhoni-news-csk-ipl-2026-1776855480947">Beyond the Boundary: How MS Dhoni earned the uniform’s respect, Army veteran explains</a> &nbsp;Dhoni began his pre-game training with a few jogs alongside CSK physio Tommy Simsek before taking some time off to watch his teammates having a crack during the practice. Dhoni then geared up for his turn, starting with some tennis-ball knocking before entering the nets to face the pace battery of Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Aman Khan and Zak Foulkes. He batted for a while, for nearly 20 minutes, before taking a short break and returning to wrap up his evening with some throwdowns, a few of which were sent out of the park. &nbsp;Meanwhile, CSK would now be making a forced change for their marquee game against Mumbai, with their top run-getter, Ayush Mhatre, out of the remainder of the tournament with a hamstring injury. CSK could bring in Gujarat batter Urvil Patel in his place, or use MS Dhoni as an Impact Sub, if needed.&nbsp; &nbsp;"A person like MS never really goes away," CSK bowling coach Eric Simons said of Dhoni's value in the dressing room. "He's always a presence. He's always there. He's always a resource for us. He's always someone we bounce off and get ideas and thoughts about. The tactic that we're using at the death has been something he's given a lot of insights into, a lot of thoughts around as well. He's always there as a resource." &nbsp;On the other hand, Rohit began his training with light jogs before facing just throwdowns, both right and left arm, without going for too many hits during his brief net session. &nbsp;On the points table, the two teams are languishing in the second half. While Mumbai is seventh on the table with two wins in four matches, CSK has equal points, but is eighth because of a poorer NRR.

MI vs CSK IPL 2026: Late fitness calls loom for Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni ahead of Wankhede clash. Can Mumbai or Chennai find a rhythm after injury setbacks?

Both the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will leave it late on the matchday (April 23) to decide on the selections of their respective marquee players, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. The uncertainty surrounding their potential comebacks will remain under wraps until the toss time on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While Rohit is sidelined with a hamstring injury, MS has yet to feature this season, recovering from a calf strain. The respective team doctors are monitoring the two. However, the two were part of their side’s training sessions at the venue on the match eve, putting in hard yards in the hope of attaining full fitness in time for the game. After missing CSK’s last six matches, MS Dhoni has travelled with the squad to Mumbai for the second consecutive time, while keeping wickets during Tuesday’s training. The next day, he was the first to hit the nets. Also read | Beyond the Boundary: How MS Dhoni earned the uniform’s respect, Army veteran explains Dhoni began his pre-game training with a few jogs alongside CSK physio Tommy Simsek before taking some time off to watch his teammates having a crack during the practice. Dhoni then geared up for his turn, starting with some tennis-ball knocking before entering the nets to face the pace battery of Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Aman Khan and Zak Foulkes. He batted for a while, for nearly 20 minutes, before taking a short break and returning to wrap up his evening with some throwdowns, a few of which were sent out of the park. Meanwhile, CSK would now be making a forced change for their marquee game against Mumbai, with their top run-getter, Ayush Mhatre, out of the remainder of the tournament with a hamstring injury. CSK could bring in Gujarat batter Urvil Patel in his place, or use MS Dhoni as an Impact Sub, if needed. "A person like MS never really goes away," CSK bowling coach Eric Simons said of Dhoni's value in the dressing room. "He's always a presence. He's always there. He's always a resource for us. He's always someone we bounce off and get ideas and thoughts about. The tactic that we're using at the death has been something he's given a lot of insights into, a lot of thoughts around as well. He's always there as a resource." On the other hand, Rohit began his training with light jogs before facing just throwdowns, both right and left arm, without going for too many hits during his brief net session. On the points table, the two teams are languishing in the second half. While Mumbai is seventh on the table with two wins in four matches, CSK has equal points, but is eighth because of a poorer NRR.

MI vs CSK IPL 2026: Late fitness calls loom for Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni ahead of Wankhede clash. Can Mumbai or Chennai find a rhythm after injury setbacks?

CSK, MI leave it late on matchday to decide on Rohit, Dhoni’s selections

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had another off day at the office as they lost a third consecutive match on home turf in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). Playing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated LSG by 40 runs in a low-scoring affair. The defeat was LSG’s fifth of the season and they stay second from bottom with four points, while RR are now second with 10 points from seven IPL 2026 matches.<h2>RR inflict more misery on LSG</h2>Burger, a left-handed quick from South Africa, struck two key blows, including Mitchell Marsh for 55, and Archer took 20/3 to bundle out the hosts, Lucknow, for 119 at the Ekana Stadium. Rajasthan bounced back from successive defeats to jump to second in the table, led by the Punjab Kings. Lucknow faltered in the chase after losing three early wickets, with skipper Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram both out for a duck.&nbsp;Burger had Pant caught behind in his first over before Markram miscued from Archer and skied a catch to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. Australia's Marsh attempted to rescue Punjab with Nicholas Pooran (22) and then impact substitute Himmat Singh, who scored 15. Marsh reached his fifty with a six off Burger, but the bowler got his revenge two balls later when the opener mishit a shot and skipper Riyan Parag took a good catch.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Medium-pace bowler Brijesh Sharma took two wickets in an over to further corner Lucknow, who survived just 18 overs in their fourth straight defeat. Archer, who reached a top speed of 151.6 km/h (94.2 mph), mopped up the final two wickets to seal victory for Rajasthan.<h2>What happened in RR innings?</h2>Ravindra Jadeja top-scored for Rajasthan with an unbeaten 43 off 29 balls, an effort that steered the team to 159/6 after they had slumped to 110/6. Mohammed Shami struck two early blows with successive deliveries to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) and Jurel for a duck.&nbsp;Fellow quick Mohsin Khan then removed 15-year-old T20 sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for eight to further hamper Rajasthan.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Shami, Mohsin and Prince Yadav claimed two wickets each but Jadeja kept up the fight and put on an unbeaten stand of 49 for the seventh wicket with impact substitute Shubham Dubey, who made 19. Shimron Hetmyer (22), Parag and Donovan Ferreira, who both scored 20, also contributed to the Rajasthan total.

Playing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 40 runs in a low-scoring affair.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had another off day at the office as they lost a third consecutive match on home turf in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). Playing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated LSG by 40 runs in a low-scoring affair. The defeat was LSG’s fifth of the season and they stay second from bottom with four points, while RR are now second with 10 points from seven IPL 2026 matches. RR inflict more misery on LSG Burger, a left-handed quick from South Africa, struck two key blows, including Mitchell Marsh for 55, and Archer took 20/3 to bundle out the hosts, Lucknow, for 119 at the Ekana Stadium. Rajasthan bounced back from successive defeats to jump to second in the table, led by the Punjab Kings. Lucknow faltered in the chase after losing three early wickets, with skipper Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram both out for a duck. Burger had Pant caught behind in his first over before Markram miscued from Archer and skied a catch to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. Australia's Marsh attempted to rescue Punjab with Nicholas Pooran (22) and then impact substitute Himmat Singh, who scored 15. Marsh reached his fifty with a six off Burger, but the bowler got his revenge two balls later when the opener mishit a shot and skipper Riyan Parag took a good catch. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Medium-pace bowler Brijesh Sharma took two wickets in an over to further corner Lucknow, who survived just 18 overs in their fourth straight defeat. Archer, who reached a top speed of 151.6 km/h (94.2 mph), mopped up the final two wickets to seal victory for Rajasthan. What happened in RR innings? Ravindra Jadeja top-scored for Rajasthan with an unbeaten 43 off 29 balls, an effort that steered the team to 159/6 after they had slumped to 110/6. Mohammed Shami struck two early blows with successive deliveries to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) and Jurel for a duck. Fellow quick Mohsin Khan then removed 15-year-old T20 sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for eight to further hamper Rajasthan. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Shami, Mohsin and Prince Yadav claimed two wickets each but Jadeja kept up the fight and put on an unbeaten stand of 49 for the seventh wicket with impact substitute Shubham Dubey, who made 19. Shimron Hetmyer (22), Parag and Donovan Ferreira, who both scored 20, also contributed to the Rajasthan total.

Playing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 40 runs in a low-scoring affair.

IPL 2026: Rajasthan inflict more misery on Lucknow as hosts remain winless after third consecutive home defeat

Chelsea on Wednesday (April 22) officially sacked manager Liam Rosenior after a poor spell in charge of the West London side. The news came following Chelsea’s latest Premier League defeat, where they lost 0-3 against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday. Chelsea were on a run of five consecutive Premier League defeats in which they failed to score a single goal.<h2>Chelsea sack Liam Rosenior</h2>"Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment midway through the season," a club statement from Chelsea said.&nbsp;"This has not been a decision the club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season."&nbsp;"As the club works to bring stability to the head coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment," the statement added.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a><h2>Who's next for Chelsea?</h2>Calum McFarlane, who was Rosenior's assistant, will be in charge in a caretaker capacity, the club added, with his first match the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United on Sunday. The club said it would "undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment."&nbsp;Rosenior was a surprise choice in January to replace Italian coach Enzo Maresca, who was considered to be popular with the Chelsea players but had fallen out with the owners. But after promising early signs, Chelsea were knocked out of the League Cup and were then eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, 8-2 on aggregate, in March.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Cracks in the relationship between the squad and coach have been in evidence for weeks. The decision to part company with Maresca in January was publicly questioned by Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella. Fernandez was then dropped for two games for suggesting he would be open to a summer move to Real Madrid and was forced to apologise. Rosenior's frustration was clear after the defeat to Brighton.

The news of Liam Rosenior's sacking came following Chelsea’s latest Premier League defeat, where they lost 0-3 against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday. Chelsea were on a run of five consecutive Premier League defeats in which they failed to score a single goal.

Chelsea on Wednesday (April 22) officially sacked manager Liam Rosenior after a poor spell in charge of the West London side. The news came following Chelsea’s latest Premier League defeat, where they lost 0-3 against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday. Chelsea were on a run of five consecutive Premier League defeats in which they failed to score a single goal. Chelsea sack Liam Rosenior "Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment midway through the season," a club statement from Chelsea said. "This has not been a decision the club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season." "As the club works to bring stability to the head coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment," the statement added. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Who's next for Chelsea? Calum McFarlane, who was Rosenior's assistant, will be in charge in a caretaker capacity, the club added, with his first match the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United on Sunday. The club said it would "undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment." Rosenior was a surprise choice in January to replace Italian coach Enzo Maresca, who was considered to be popular with the Chelsea players but had fallen out with the owners. But after promising early signs, Chelsea were knocked out of the League Cup and were then eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, 8-2 on aggregate, in March. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Cracks in the relationship between the squad and coach have been in evidence for weeks. The decision to part company with Maresca in January was publicly questioned by Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella. Fernandez was then dropped for two games for suggesting he would be open to a summer move to Real Madrid and was forced to apologise. Rosenior's frustration was clear after the defeat to Brighton.

The news of Liam Rosenior's sacking came following Chelsea’s latest Premier League defeat, where they lost 0-3 against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday. Chelsea were on a run of five consecutive Premier League defeats in which they failed to score a single goal.

Chelsea sack manager Liam Rosenior after five consecutive Premier League defeats

Real Madrid star man and former Birmingham City player, Jude Bellingham, has invested in The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix as he showed affection for his hometown. The Hundred, England’s premier short-form cricket format, has been in the news for multiple reasons recently; however, the headlines belonged to Bellingham, who now owns a stake in the franchise. Speaking after buying a stake, Bellingham was full of gratitude for his hometown, from where he started his journey as a sportsman.<h2>Bellingham pays tribute to Birmingham</h2>The England midfielder has taken a 1.2 per cent holding in the Edgbaston-based Hundred team at a reported cost of over £800,000 ($1 million). The Phoenix franchise was valued at around £82million when Knighthead Capital acquired a 49 per cent stake last year during a sales process initiated by the England and Wales Cricket Board. Bellingham, who was brought up in nearby Stourbridge and began his career at Birmingham City, is a big cricket fan and played for Hagley in Worcestershire as a junior.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;"I love Birmingham. I'm very grateful for what the whole city of Birmingham has done for me," said the 22-year-old.&nbsp;"I love cricket as well, so when I got the opportunity to get involved, I didn't really think twice about it, so I'm so happy to be on board.&nbsp;"I got the best upbringing in football, in life, through Birmingham City. I feel like I owe the city something."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady is also part of the Knighthead group that owns Birmingham City. Stakes in the eight city-based franchises -- which all have men's and women's teams -- were sold last year to private investors, raising huge sums for cricket in England and Wales. The 2026 edition of the Hundred starts on July 21 and runs for four weeks.

The Hundred, England’s premier short-form cricket format, has been in the news for multiple reasons recently; however, the headlines belonged to Jude Bellingham, who now owns a stake in the franchise.

Real Madrid star man and former Birmingham City player, Jude Bellingham, has invested in The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix as he showed affection for his hometown. The Hundred, England’s premier short-form cricket format, has been in the news for multiple reasons recently; however, the headlines belonged to Bellingham, who now owns a stake in the franchise. Speaking after buying a stake, Bellingham was full of gratitude for his hometown, from where he started his journey as a sportsman. Bellingham pays tribute to Birmingham The England midfielder has taken a 1.2 per cent holding in the Edgbaston-based Hundred team at a reported cost of over £800,000 ($1 million). The Phoenix franchise was valued at around £82million when Knighthead Capital acquired a 49 per cent stake last year during a sales process initiated by the England and Wales Cricket Board. Bellingham, who was brought up in nearby Stourbridge and began his career at Birmingham City, is a big cricket fan and played for Hagley in Worcestershire as a junior. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions "I love Birmingham. I'm very grateful for what the whole city of Birmingham has done for me," said the 22-year-old. "I love cricket as well, so when I got the opportunity to get involved, I didn't really think twice about it, so I'm so happy to be on board. "I got the best upbringing in football, in life, through Birmingham City. I feel like I owe the city something." ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady is also part of the Knighthead group that owns Birmingham City. Stakes in the eight city-based franchises -- which all have men's and women's teams -- were sold last year to private investors, raising huge sums for cricket in England and Wales. The 2026 edition of the Hundred starts on July 21 and runs for four weeks.

The Hundred, England’s premier short-form cricket format, has been in the news for multiple reasons recently; however, the headlines belonged to Jude Bellingham, who now owns a stake in the franchise.

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham buys stake in The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix, says 'grateful for the city'

Teenage superstar Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is no longer just a batting prodigy from India, but a worldwide sensation known for his unmatched power and skills. From impressing England and IPL veteran Jos Buttler, who called him the 'best-ever', to grabbing World Cup-winning Australian captain Allan Border's attention, the 15-year-old continues to make headlines. Turning heads with his explosive knocks thus far this season, Sooryavanshi has received the highest praise from the batting veteran, who says he sees glimpses of Brian Lara in him.&nbsp;In Mumbai, as part of his India visit linked to the International Masters League, Border couldn’t stop praising Vaibhav, whose explosive IPL 2026 season has already sparked discussions about a future national call-up.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-feel-bad-even-today-kris-srikkanth-heartfelt-apology-to-rohit-sharma-over-2011-world-cup-squad-omission-1776859387309">‘I feel bad even today’: Kris Srikkanth’s heartfelt apology to Rohit Sharma over 2011 World Cup omission</a> &nbsp;“I think Vaibhav's one hell of a player, a great talent. I have never seen any batter at the age of 14 or 15, hitting a cricket ball with so much of power,” Allan Border said in a chat with Mid-Day. &nbsp;Although the internet, his fans, several cricket experts, and more so have picked him to be India’s face for years to come, Border remained mum on his prediction about the Indian teenager. Without murmuring too much about what the future could hold for Sooryavanshi, he made a startling comment on his playing style, saying he reminds him of Lara, perhaps amongst the greatest cricketers of all time. &nbsp;“Of course, I can't predict at this moment if he will go on to become a very successful Test cricketer or not, but I can clearly see glimpses of Brian Lara in him. He has a long way to go, but he sure can hit that ball across all parts of the ground,” assessed Border.<h3>Useful advice for Vaibhav</h3>While he acknowledged his attacking game play and how quick he is with his timing, Border advised him to hone the defensive side of his cricket, which will eventually help him become a better cricketer. &nbsp;“Vaibhav must now learn how to tighten his defence,” he added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Vaibhav got out on a rare single-digit score (8), with Mohsin Khan removing him inside the Powerplay.

I can clearly see glimpses of Brian Lara in him." Legendary Australian captain Allan Border hails 15-year-old IPL sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s "unmatched power" but issues a vital warning for his Test cricket future.

Teenage superstar Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is no longer just a batting prodigy from India, but a worldwide sensation known for his unmatched power and skills. From impressing England and IPL veteran Jos Buttler, who called him the 'best-ever', to grabbing World Cup-winning Australian captain Allan Border's attention, the 15-year-old continues to make headlines. Turning heads with his explosive knocks thus far this season, Sooryavanshi has received the highest praise from the batting veteran, who says he sees glimpses of Brian Lara in him. In Mumbai, as part of his India visit linked to the International Masters League, Border couldn’t stop praising Vaibhav, whose explosive IPL 2026 season has already sparked discussions about a future national call-up. Also read | ‘I feel bad even today’: Kris Srikkanth’s heartfelt apology to Rohit Sharma over 2011 World Cup omission “I think Vaibhav's one hell of a player, a great talent. I have never seen any batter at the age of 14 or 15, hitting a cricket ball with so much of power,” Allan Border said in a chat with Mid-Day. Although the internet, his fans, several cricket experts, and more so have picked him to be India’s face for years to come, Border remained mum on his prediction about the Indian teenager. Without murmuring too much about what the future could hold for Sooryavanshi, he made a startling comment on his playing style, saying he reminds him of Lara, perhaps amongst the greatest cricketers of all time. “Of course, I can't predict at this moment if he will go on to become a very successful Test cricketer or not, but I can clearly see glimpses of Brian Lara in him. He has a long way to go, but he sure can hit that ball across all parts of the ground,” assessed Border. Useful advice for Vaibhav While he acknowledged his attacking game play and how quick he is with his timing, Border advised him to hone the defensive side of his cricket, which will eventually help him become a better cricketer. “Vaibhav must now learn how to tighten his defence,” he added. Meanwhile, against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Vaibhav got out on a rare single-digit score (8), with Mohsin Khan removing him inside the Powerplay.

I can clearly see glimpses of Brian Lara in him." Legendary Australian captain Allan Border hails 15-year-old IPL sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s "unmatched power" but issues a vital warning for his Test cricket future.

‘Glimpses of Brian Lara’: Legendary Allan Border hails teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

The Premier League (PL) title race is set for a tense final few weeks as Manchester City and Arsenal battle for the top honour in English football. The title race took a dramatic turn on Sunday (April 19) as Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, narrowing the gap between Pep Guardiola's and Mikel Arteta’s sides to just three points. However, with a game in hand, Man City will have the advantage as they can top the league on goal difference, setting up an intense final few weeks of the season.<h2>What is the current scenario?</h2>As things stand on this evening of Wednesday (April 22), before Man City’s game against Burnley, it is Arsenal who top the standings with 70 points from 33 matches. On the other hand, Man City will start the evening on 67 points from 32 matches and will have a game in hand over their nearest rivals. While Man City are not in Premier League action over the weekend due to FA Cup commitments, they can temporarily go top of the table if they beat Burnley.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a><h2>Man City’s equation to win Premier League title</h2>Man City can reach a maximum of 85 points if they win all six matches in hand, including Wednesday’s match against Burnley. If they win all their matches and Arsenal fail to drop points in any of their remaining five matches, Man City will lift their seventh Premier League title under Guardiola. However, if both Man City and Arsenal win all their matches from now until the end of the season, the title will be decided on goal difference (GD). In case both teams have the same GD, then the team scoring the most goals will win the PL title.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a><h2>Arsenal’s equation to win Premier League title</h2>Arsenal’s equation to win the Premier League title is similar to that of Man City; they must win all their remaining matches and hope Man City drop points in at least one of their six matches. In case Man City win all matches, then the Gunners will have to win their matches as well, meaning both teams will end up on 85 points each.&nbsp;This will mean the PL title will be decided on GD and the Gunners will have to keep track of their goals scored and goals conceded if they are to win the title.&nbsp;

As things stand on this evening of Wednesday, before Man City’s game against Burnley, it is Arsenal who top the standings with 70 points from 33 matches. On the other hand, Man City will start the evening on 67 points from 32 matches and will have a game in hand over their nearest rivals.

The Premier League (PL) title race is set for a tense final few weeks as Manchester City and Arsenal battle for the top honour in English football. The title race took a dramatic turn on Sunday (April 19) as Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, narrowing the gap between Pep Guardiola's and Mikel Arteta’s sides to just three points. However, with a game in hand, Man City will have the advantage as they can top the league on goal difference, setting up an intense final few weeks of the season. What is the current scenario? As things stand on this evening of Wednesday (April 22), before Man City’s game against Burnley, it is Arsenal who top the standings with 70 points from 33 matches. On the other hand, Man City will start the evening on 67 points from 32 matches and will have a game in hand over their nearest rivals. While Man City are not in Premier League action over the weekend due to FA Cup commitments, they can temporarily go top of the table if they beat Burnley. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Man City’s equation to win Premier League title Man City can reach a maximum of 85 points if they win all six matches in hand, including Wednesday’s match against Burnley. If they win all their matches and Arsenal fail to drop points in any of their remaining five matches, Man City will lift their seventh Premier League title under Guardiola. However, if both Man City and Arsenal win all their matches from now until the end of the season, the title will be decided on goal difference (GD). In case both teams have the same GD, then the team scoring the most goals will win the PL title. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Arsenal’s equation to win Premier League title Arsenal’s equation to win the Premier League title is similar to that of Man City; they must win all their remaining matches and hope Man City drop points in at least one of their six matches. In case Man City win all matches, then the Gunners will have to win their matches as well, meaning both teams will end up on 85 points each. This will mean the PL title will be decided on GD and the Gunners will have to keep track of their goals scored and goals conceded if they are to win the title.

As things stand on this evening of Wednesday, before Man City’s game against Burnley, it is Arsenal who top the standings with 70 points from 33 matches. On the other hand, Man City will start the evening on 67 points from 32 matches and will have a game in hand over their nearest rivals.

All Premier League title permutations explained as Man City, Arsenal set for final run-in

MS Dhoni continues to inch closer to his IPL return this season, but nothing concrete has come up yet. The veteran CSK player, who captained the franchise to record five IPL titles, continues to recover from the calf strain he sustained ahead of this edition. Although he should have been up and ready per an initial timeline as laid out by CSK, the franchise sweats on his confirmation as the selection call for the marquee Mumbai Indians game looms.&nbsp;Dhoni was back in training at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, with CSK scheduled to face their former foes on Thursday (Apr 23) in a marquee clash. Keeping wickets during the nets session, the video of which has also gone viral, Dhoni has indicated his return to the playing XI. Should that happen, which, per the latest reports, looks unlikely, playing his first game of the season at the venue he once created history at would break the internet.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Rule No. 1: Don’t step out when Thala’s behind the stumps Rule No. 2: Read Rule No. 1 again 😂💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yellove?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yellove</a> <a href="https://t.co/mPYUIb3yuW">pic.twitter.com/mPYUIb3yuW</a>&mdash; Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/2046584106507714816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, Dhoni kept wickets (to Sarfaraz Khan and Urvil Patel) for nearly 40 minutes during the training session, leaving onlookers surprised as he usually never practices during wicketkeeping drills. Not only this, but the 44-year-old also batted for close to an hour, first facing the CSK bowlers before taking throwdowns.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-feel-bad-even-today-kris-srikkanth-heartfelt-apology-to-rohit-sharma-over-2011-world-cup-squad-omission-1776859387309">‘I feel bad even today’: Kris Srikkanth’s heartfelt apology to Rohit Sharma over 2011 World Cup omission</a><h3>Away from the game, away from the sight</h3>Dhoni hasn’t featured in the first six matches contested by CSK, with Sanju Samson keeping wickets in his absence. Although it’s been close to a month since he has been absent from everyone’s sight, even during the home games, Dhoni could make a comeback sooner than expected.<h3>How has CSK fared in Dhoni’s absence?</h3>CSK’s new opening pair (team captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Samson) hasn’t found its mojo yet, with only Samson among the run-getters at the top. While Gaikwad has failed to get going, an untimely injury to fellow run-scorer Ayush Mhatre has further dented their situation. &nbsp;Currently in eighth place on the points table, CSK has won just two matches and lost four. On the other hand, the Mumbai Indians (MI) sit in a higher position, seventh, with better NRR but equal points.

With CSK languishing in 8th place and Ayush Mhatre out, the franchise is sweating on MS Dhoni’s return. After a month-long battle with a calf strain, will the legendary keeper-finisher be the spark CSK needs against MI?

MS Dhoni continues to inch closer to his IPL return this season, but nothing concrete has come up yet. The veteran CSK player, who captained the franchise to record five IPL titles, continues to recover from the calf strain he sustained ahead of this edition. Although he should have been up and ready per an initial timeline as laid out by CSK, the franchise sweats on his confirmation as the selection call for the marquee Mumbai Indians game looms. Dhoni was back in training at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, with CSK scheduled to face their former foes on Thursday (Apr 23) in a marquee clash. Keeping wickets during the nets session, the video of which has also gone viral, Dhoni has indicated his return to the playing XI. Should that happen, which, per the latest reports, looks unlikely, playing his first game of the season at the venue he once created history at would break the internet.

With CSK languishing in 8th place and Ayush Mhatre out, the franchise is sweating on MS Dhoni’s return. After a month-long battle with a calf strain, will the legendary keeper-finisher be the spark CSK needs against MI?

IPL 2026: MS Dhoni fine-tunes keeping at Wankhede: Decision on MI return imminent

Rohit Sharma has two ICC Champions Trophies and as many T20 World Cups to his name, but misses the prestigious ODI World Cup crown, which he missed twice, once after losing the final in 2023, and once for missing out on making the squad during the 2011 edition at home. Even though Virat Kohli (who made his international debut a year later than Rohit did) made it to the final 15, the Kris Srikkanth-led selection committee overlooked the veteran opener, something the then BCCI chief selector feels bad about even today, having apologised to him several times since.&nbsp;“I feel bad for him even today. I told Rohit last year, I am sorry, I am sorry,’ former BCCI selector apologises to Rohit Sharma. “It's not by purpose, but it's just that we want to take those half all-rounders. Our thought process was similar to that of the 1983 World Cup,” Srikkanth said in an interview with The Week.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beyond-the-boundary-how-ms-dhoni-earned-the-uniform-respect-army-veteran-explains-lt-gen-vinod-bhatia-dhoni-news-csk-ipl-2026-1776855480947">Beyond the Boundary: How MS Dhoni earned the uniform’s respect, Army veteran explains</a><h3>The call that paid dividends</h3>Even without Rohit, who was far from peaking in the lead-up to the ODI World Cup, Team India reigned supreme, with almost every one of the selected members delivering for the Men in Blue. With a focus on batting depth and adding more bowling options, the selectors’ approach paid dividends. &nbsp;Yuvraj Singh was India’s best performer throughout, picking 15 wickets in nine matches and scoring 362 runs, including a match-winning hundred against the West Indies in Chennai. His outstanding performance helped him earn the Player of the Tournament award. &nbsp;“And at the end of the day, who was the Player of the Tournament? Yuvraj Singh, with the ball and bat. In some matches, Sehwag, Sachin and Suresh Raina would have bowled a few overs. Even Yusuf Pathan is a half all-rounder. So in all these things, unfortunately, what happened, this half all-rounder concept, Rohit Sharma, the poor fellow, could not find a place. He was actually good enough to play in the 2011 World Cup, but poor boy missed out,” Srikkanth added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, as destiny had it, Rohit became the cornerstone of Team India’s success that began midway through the previous decade following India’s second Champions Trophy triumph. Rohit’s batting accolades were the highlight of India’s golden period, where he captained the side across three formats, winning two ICC titles. &nbsp;Although in the twilight stage of his career now, Rohit aims to continue playing till the next ODI World Cup in October 2027.

“I told him I’m sorry.” Kris Srikkanth reveals the "half all-rounder" strategy that led to Rohit Sharma's heartbreaking omission from the 2011 World Cup squad and why he still regrets the decision today.

Rohit Sharma has two ICC Champions Trophies and as many T20 World Cups to his name, but misses the prestigious ODI World Cup crown, which he missed twice, once after losing the final in 2023, and once for missing out on making the squad during the 2011 edition at home. Even though Virat Kohli (who made his international debut a year later than Rohit did) made it to the final 15, the Kris Srikkanth-led selection committee overlooked the veteran opener, something the then BCCI chief selector feels bad about even today, having apologised to him several times since. “I feel bad for him even today. I told Rohit last year, I am sorry, I am sorry,’ former BCCI selector apologises to Rohit Sharma. “It's not by purpose, but it's just that we want to take those half all-rounders. Our thought process was similar to that of the 1983 World Cup,” Srikkanth said in an interview with The Week. Also read | Beyond the Boundary: How MS Dhoni earned the uniform’s respect, Army veteran explains The call that paid dividends Even without Rohit, who was far from peaking in the lead-up to the ODI World Cup, Team India reigned supreme, with almost every one of the selected members delivering for the Men in Blue. With a focus on batting depth and adding more bowling options, the selectors’ approach paid dividends. Yuvraj Singh was India’s best performer throughout, picking 15 wickets in nine matches and scoring 362 runs, including a match-winning hundred against the West Indies in Chennai. His outstanding performance helped him earn the Player of the Tournament award. “And at the end of the day, who was the Player of the Tournament? Yuvraj Singh, with the ball and bat. In some matches, Sehwag, Sachin and Suresh Raina would have bowled a few overs. Even Yusuf Pathan is a half all-rounder. So in all these things, unfortunately, what happened, this half all-rounder concept, Rohit Sharma, the poor fellow, could not find a place. He was actually good enough to play in the 2011 World Cup, but poor boy missed out,” Srikkanth added. Meanwhile, as destiny had it, Rohit became the cornerstone of Team India’s success that began midway through the previous decade following India’s second Champions Trophy triumph. Rohit’s batting accolades were the highlight of India’s golden period, where he captained the side across three formats, winning two ICC titles. Although in the twilight stage of his career now, Rohit aims to continue playing till the next ODI World Cup in October 2027.

“I told him I’m sorry.” Kris Srikkanth reveals the "half all-rounder" strategy that led to Rohit Sharma's heartbreaking omission from the 2011 World Cup squad and why he still regrets the decision today.

‘I feel bad even today’: Kris Srikkanth’s heartfelt apology to Rohit Sharma over 2011 World Cup omission

Retired Lt Gen. Vinod Bhatia, a veteran of the Indian Army, recalled the time when ex-Indian captain MS Dhoni was about to be bestowed with an honorary rank, and how, despite being ‘reluctant’, Dhoni’s behaviour and march like a soldier won him over.&nbsp;MS Dhoni’s aura stretches beyond boundary lines. Mr Cool, Dhoni was known for his calm demeanour and always keeping the nation ahead, with countless instances and narrations (from his ex-teammates) proving it. For his list of achievements for his country, including winning the T20 and ODI World Cups, the Indian Army awarded him with an honorary rank and the coveted Maroon Beret. However, the decision to grant him the same met with initial scepticism.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-csk-suffer-major-setback-as-ayush-mhatre-ruled-out-due-to-hamstring-injury-1776765103908">IPL 2026: CSK suffer major setback as Ayush Mhatre ruled out due to hamstring injury</a> &nbsp;During a podcast, Bhatia revealed how he was initially reluctant to see MS Dhoni receive this rank, questioning whether a civilian could truly uphold the prestige of a paratrooper. But after seeing him complete the rigorous para-training, Bhatia’s opinion changed. &nbsp;"Our chief at the time was General VK Singh," Bhatia said. “He decided that MS Dhoni, who was the Indian team captain then, should be given an honorary rank. I was a bit reluctant. The Maroon Beret is very prestigious; to become a paratrooper, one must undergo six months of probation. It is incredibly tough, with a selection rate of only 20%, and the goal is to break your will. Giving the Maroon Beret to someone without that probation felt wrong.”<h3>‘Done a lot for our country’</h3>Praising his patriotism and his long list of accolades, Bhatia said, "MS Dhoni has done a lot for the country. I am very proud of him and his achievements. They call him 'Captain Cool,' and he possesses immense passion. He even admitted to me that he was afraid of heights, yet he still went ahead and jumped. He completed his paratrooper jumps and always upheld the dignity of the uniform. He behaved and marched like a soldier; I could feel that he was a true soldier at heart. Furthermore, he served in Jammu and Kashmir with our units, travelling right up to the Line of Control. His motivation was truly remarkable.” &nbsp;Meanwhile, MS Dhoni, who is recovering from the side strain he suffered ahead of the start of IPL 2026, holds an honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army (106 Para TA Battalion), conferred in 2011, the same year he guided Team India to their second ODI World Cup, and first since 1983. &nbsp;‘Thala’, often referred to by his fans, is also permitted to wear the elite maroon beret and the Para Wing insignia, having qualified as a paratrooper in 2015 after completing five parachute training jumps.

“He marched like a soldier.” Retired Lt Gen. Vinod Bhatia explains why he was initially sceptical of MS Dhoni’s honorary Army rank and how the legendary captain eventually earned the respect of the elite Paratroopers.

Retired Lt Gen. Vinod Bhatia, a veteran of the Indian Army, recalled the time when ex-Indian captain MS Dhoni was about to be bestowed with an honorary rank, and how, despite being ‘reluctant’, Dhoni’s behaviour and march like a soldier won him over. MS Dhoni’s aura stretches beyond boundary lines. Mr Cool, Dhoni was known for his calm demeanour and always keeping the nation ahead, with countless instances and narrations (from his ex-teammates) proving it. For his list of achievements for his country, including winning the T20 and ODI World Cups, the Indian Army awarded him with an honorary rank and the coveted Maroon Beret. However, the decision to grant him the same met with initial scepticism. Also read | IPL 2026: CSK suffer major setback as Ayush Mhatre ruled out due to hamstring injury During a podcast, Bhatia revealed how he was initially reluctant to see MS Dhoni receive this rank, questioning whether a civilian could truly uphold the prestige of a paratrooper. But after seeing him complete the rigorous para-training, Bhatia’s opinion changed. "Our chief at the time was General VK Singh," Bhatia said. “He decided that MS Dhoni, who was the Indian team captain then, should be given an honorary rank. I was a bit reluctant. The Maroon Beret is very prestigious; to become a paratrooper, one must undergo six months of probation. It is incredibly tough, with a selection rate of only 20%, and the goal is to break your will. Giving the Maroon Beret to someone without that probation felt wrong.” ‘Done a lot for our country’ Praising his patriotism and his long list of accolades, Bhatia said, "MS Dhoni has done a lot for the country. I am very proud of him and his achievements. They call him 'Captain Cool,' and he possesses immense passion. He even admitted to me that he was afraid of heights, yet he still went ahead and jumped. He completed his paratrooper jumps and always upheld the dignity of the uniform. He behaved and marched like a soldier; I could feel that he was a true soldier at heart. Furthermore, he served in Jammu and Kashmir with our units, travelling right up to the Line of Control. His motivation was truly remarkable.” Meanwhile, MS Dhoni, who is recovering from the side strain he suffered ahead of the start of IPL 2026, holds an honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army (106 Para TA Battalion), conferred in 2011, the same year he guided Team India to their second ODI World Cup, and first since 1983. ‘Thala’, often referred to by his fans, is also permitted to wear the elite maroon beret and the Para Wing insignia, having qualified as a paratrooper in 2015 after completing five parachute training jumps.

“He marched like a soldier.” Retired Lt Gen. Vinod Bhatia explains why he was initially sceptical of MS Dhoni’s honorary Army rank and how the legendary captain eventually earned the respect of the elite Paratroopers.

Beyond the Boundary: How MS Dhoni earned the uniform’s respect, Army veteran explains

Abhishek is now the first batter in IPL history to have two individual scores of 130+ runs. During his previous century, which came against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, he scored 141 - third highest individual score in the tournament history behind Chris Gayle (175 not out) and Brendon McCullum (158 not out).

Abhishek is now the first batter in IPL history to have two individual scores of 130+ runs. During his previous century, which came against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, he scored 141 - third highest individual score in the tournament history behind Chris Gayle (175 not out) and Brendon McCullum (158 not out).

'In league of his own': How Abhishek surpassed every other batter with 135 not out for SRH vs DC

Abhishek Sharma scored 135 not out against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Tuesday (Apr 21), his second IPL hundred, and entered the record books for his effort. Thanks to Abhishek, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) posted 242/3 in 20 overs, which proved 47 runs too many for DC in the end. With the century, Abhishek became the first batter in IPL history to have two individual scores of 130+ runs. During his previous century, which came against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, he scored 141 - third highest individual score in the tournament history behind Chris Gayle (175 not out in IPL 2013) and Brendon McCullum (158 not out in IPL 2008). Notably, only seven times a batter has crossed 130-run mark in IPL and Abhishek accounts for two of those seven times.<h2>Abhishek Sharma now in league of his own in IPL 2026</h2>Known for his aggressive batting style, Abhishek climbed the batting charts with his century on Tuesday (Apr 21) vs DC. In his unbeaten innings of 68-ball 135, Abhishek hit 10 sixes and 10 fours, scoring 100 runs off boundaries only. Below are his IPL 2026 numbers:<ul><li>Abhishek currently holds the orange cap for most runs (323) in the tournament - three runs more than his SRH teammate Heinrich Klaasen (320).</li><li>Abhishek has hit most sixes (27) in the tournament so far including 10 vs DC - the most in an innings in IPL 2026. Next best is RCB skipper Rajat Patidar with 22 maximums.</li><li>Abhishek has joint-most fifty-plus scores (3) along with Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, and Klaasen. Although, only he has one hundred to go with two fifties while others have three fifties each.</li><li>Abhishek's 135 not out is also the highest individual score in the IPL 2026 so far and his overall strike rate of 215 is third best behind Priyansh Arya (248) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (236.53).</li></ul><h2>Which batters have scored 130+ runs in an IPL innings?</h2>Abhishek Sharma is one of the six batters to score 130+ runs in an IPL innings and the only one to do so two times out of a total seven. Below are the batters who have crossed 130-run mark in an IPL innings:Chris Gayle - He scored 175 not out for RCB vs now-defunct Pune Warriors Indians (PWI) in IPL 2023. Brendon McCullum - He scored 158 not out for Kolkata Knight Rides (KKR) vs RCB in inaugural match of the tournament in IPL 2008. Abhishek Sharma - He hit 141 for SRH vs PBKS in IPL 2025. Quinton de Kock - The Protea batters scored 140 not out for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) vs KKR in IPL 2022. Abhishek Sharma - His 135 not out vs Delhi Capital in IPL 2026 is the second time he crossed 130-run mark in an innings. AB de Villiers - The South African batter scored 133 not out for RCB vs Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025. KL Rahul - The only Indian batter other than Abhishek in list, he scored 132 not out for Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) vs RCB in IPL 2020.

With the century, Abhishek became the first batter in IPL history to have two individual scores of 130+ runs. During his previous century, which came against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, he scored 141. Only 7 times a batter has crossed 130-run mark in IPL and Abhishek accounts for two of them.

Abhishek Sharma scored 135 not out against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Tuesday (Apr 21), his second IPL hundred, and entered the record books for his effort. Thanks to Abhishek, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) posted 242/3 in 20 overs, which proved 47 runs too many for DC in the end. With the century, Abhishek became the first batter in IPL history to have two individual scores of 130+ runs. During his previous century, which came against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, he scored 141 - third highest individual score in the tournament history behind Chris Gayle (175 not out in IPL 2013) and Brendon McCullum (158 not out in IPL 2008). Notably, only seven times a batter has crossed 130-run mark in IPL and Abhishek accounts for two of those seven times. Abhishek Sharma now in league of his own in IPL 2026 Known for his aggressive batting style, Abhishek climbed the batting charts with his century on Tuesday (Apr 21) vs DC. In his unbeaten innings of 68-ball 135, Abhishek hit 10 sixes and 10 fours, scoring 100 runs off boundaries only. Below are his IPL 2026 numbers: Abhishek currently holds the orange cap for most runs (323) in the tournament - three runs more than his SRH teammate Heinrich Klaasen (320). Abhishek has hit most sixes (27) in the tournament so far including 10 vs DC - the most in an innings in IPL 2026. Next best is RCB skipper Rajat Patidar with 22 maximums. Abhishek has joint-most fifty-plus scores (3) along with Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, and Klaasen. Although, only he has one hundred to go with two fifties while others have three fifties each. Abhishek's 135 not out is also the highest individual score in the IPL 2026 so far and his overall strike rate of 215 is third best behind Priyansh Arya (248) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (236.53). Which batters have scored 130+ runs in an IPL innings? Abhishek Sharma is one of the six batters to score 130+ runs in an IPL innings and the only one to do so two times out of a total seven. Below are the batters who have crossed 130-run mark in an IPL innings: Chris Gayle - He scored 175 not out for RCB vs now-defunct Pune Warriors Indians (PWI) in IPL 2023. Brendon McCullum - He scored 158 not out for Kolkata Knight Rides (KKR) vs RCB in inaugural match of the tournament in IPL 2008. Abhishek Sharma - He hit 141 for SRH vs PBKS in IPL 2025. Quinton de Kock - The Protea batters scored 140 not out for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) vs KKR in IPL 2022. Abhishek Sharma - His 135 not out vs Delhi Capital in IPL 2026 is the second time he crossed 130-run mark in an innings. AB de Villiers - The South African batter scored 133 not out for RCB vs Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025. KL Rahul - The only Indian batter other than Abhishek in list, he scored 132 not out for Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) vs RCB in IPL 2020.

With the century, Abhishek became the first batter in IPL history to have two individual scores of 130+ runs. During his previous century, which came against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, he scored 141. Only 7 times a batter has crossed 130-run mark in IPL and Abhishek accounts for two of them.

IPL 2026 | Abhishek Sharma's historic 135 not out vs DC takes him ahead of all batters

Churchill Downs has secured a deal to buy intellectual property rights of Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for $85 million. The deal would bring two of three US Triple Crown races under the same umbrella. Churchill Downs owns the rights for Kentucky Derby, first of three Triple Crown races, and will now have Preakness added to the portfolio before the 2026 race, scheduled two weeks after the Derby and is followed by the third race of Triple Crown - Belmont Stakes. The deal, however, doesn't threaten to move the race out of the state of Maryland.<h2>What Churchill Downs owning Preakness rights means?</h2>In simple terms, the state of Maryland will now pay Churchill Downs an annual fee for the rights to continue to hold the race in the state. Earlier, Maryland used to pay Stronach group for the rights, from which it acquired Pimlico race course - home of the Preakness. In a deal struck in 2024, Maryland took over Pimlico but Stronach group continue to own IP right, including name and brand, for the Preakness. The state paid 1/ST Racing, owned by Stronach group, a fee for the rights to hold the races.<h2>What is means for Preakness future?</h2>One thing that could change after Churchill Downs officially becomes owner of IP rights is gap between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Currently, the gap is two weeks which has come scrutiny as most Derby winners avoid it because of short turnaround time such as Rich Strike (2022) and Sovereignty (2025). The gap, from as early as 2027, could be increased to three weeks, which eventually may push Belmont Stakes, held three weeks after Preakness, further in future.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-tough-for-tournament-sinner-not-happy-with-alcaraz-withdrawing-from-madrid-open-1776835810362">'Tough for tournament', says Sinner on Alcaraz withdrawing from Madrid Open</a><h2>Why is Preakness important?</h2>First run in 1873, Preakness is one of the three Triple Crown races in the US - winning all three is epitome for any horse. It has been held Pimlico Race Course since the beginning, barring in 2026 as the iconic venue is under much-needed renovation. In 2026, Preakness is scheduled at Laurel Park in suburbs of Maryland with attendance kept at fewer than 5,000.<h2>How many horses have won Triple Crown?</h2>Known as one of the most difficult feats to achieve in any sport, only 13 horses have won all three Triple Crown races in one season throughout the history. They are: Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018).

One thing that could change after the deal is gap between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Currently, the gap is two weeks which has come scrutiny as most Derby winners avoid it because of short turnaround time such as Rich Strike (2022) and Sovereignty (2025).

Churchill Downs has secured a deal to buy intellectual property rights of Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for $85 million. The deal would bring two of three US Triple Crown races under the same umbrella. Churchill Downs owns the rights for Kentucky Derby, first of three Triple Crown races, and will now have Preakness added to the portfolio before the 2026 race, scheduled two weeks after the Derby and is followed by the third race of Triple Crown - Belmont Stakes. The deal, however, doesn't threaten to move the race out of the state of Maryland. What Churchill Downs owning Preakness rights means? In simple terms, the state of Maryland will now pay Churchill Downs an annual fee for the rights to continue to hold the race in the state. Earlier, Maryland used to pay Stronach group for the rights, from which it acquired Pimlico race course - home of the Preakness. In a deal struck in 2024, Maryland took over Pimlico but Stronach group continue to own IP right, including name and brand, for the Preakness. The state paid 1/ST Racing, owned by Stronach group, a fee for the rights to hold the races. What is means for Preakness future? One thing that could change after Churchill Downs officially becomes owner of IP rights is gap between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Currently, the gap is two weeks which has come scrutiny as most Derby winners avoid it because of short turnaround time such as Rich Strike (2022) and Sovereignty (2025). The gap, from as early as 2027, could be increased to three weeks, which eventually may push Belmont Stakes, held three weeks after Preakness, further in future. Also Read - 'Tough for tournament', says Sinner on Alcaraz withdrawing from Madrid Open Why is Preakness important? First run in 1873, Preakness is one of the three Triple Crown races in the US - winning all three is epitome for any horse. It has been held Pimlico Race Course since the beginning, barring in 2026 as the iconic venue is under much-needed renovation. In 2026, Preakness is scheduled at Laurel Park in suburbs of Maryland with attendance kept at fewer than 5,000. How many horses have won Triple Crown? Known as one of the most difficult feats to achieve in any sport, only 13 horses have won all three Triple Crown races in one season throughout the history. They are: Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018).

One thing that could change after the deal is gap between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Currently, the gap is two weeks which has come scrutiny as most Derby winners avoid it because of short turnaround time such as Rich Strike (2022) and Sovereignty (2025).

Churchill Downs buys Preakness IP rights in historic deal - What it means for Triple Crown?

Jannik Sinner is not happy with Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from the Madrid Open. Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament owing to a right wrist injury which may cause him to avoid the upcoming French Open 2026 as well. The Spaniard's absence, however, presents Sinner with an opportunity to win his record fifth straight Masters title following his victories in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo. The Italian, however, acknowledges that it will not be same without Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic who is also not participating in the tournament. Alcaraz and Sinner have become the top tennis players in the last couple of years as Djokovic, only one still playing from Big Three (Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer), continues to search for his elusive 25th grand slam title.<h2>Sinner not happy about Alcaraz not playing in Madrid Open</h2>"It’s a very tough thing for the tournament,” said Sinner about Alcaraz's absence as reported by the Guardian. "Last year he didn’t play, so twice in a row is tough. And also Novak [Djokovic] is not here, it’s tough to swallow for the tournament. It is always different when Carlos and Novak are not in the draw. I would say [this situation is] unique because we have shared since last year a lot of tournaments."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cafu-backs-brazil-to-end-fifa-trophy-drought-tips-2026-world-cup-as-best-chance-vinicius-brazil-at-1776708590369">Cafu backs Brazil to end World Cup drought; tips 2026 edition as best chance</a><h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/alcaraz-to-not-play-french-open-2026-laureus-sportsperson-of-year-2025-shares-injury-details-1776744881939">Why Alcaraz may not play French Open</a></h2>Alcaraz shared the injury details while receiving Laureus Sportsperson of the Year award for 2025 in Madrid on Monday (Apr 20). He said that he'll be looking to preserving his health instead of rushing back, given he's only 22 and has lot of future ahead of him."I have a long career ahead of me. Forcing for Roland Garros could penalise me enormously in the future. We’ll see what the tests show. But I prefer to come back a bit later rather than rush," Alcaraz said when asked if he'll play at the Roland Garros.If Alcaraz indeed doesn't play French Open 2026, the tournament his has won two consecutive times in 2024 and 2025, it'll give Sinner a great chance to complete his career grand slam. Sinner has already won Australia Open (2024 &amp; 2025), Wimbledon (2025), and US Open (2024).

Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament owing to a right wrist injury which may cause him to avoid the French Open as well. His absence, however, presents Sinner with an opportunity to win record fifth straight Masters title following his victories in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo.

Jannik Sinner is not happy with Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from the Madrid Open. Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament owing to a right wrist injury which may cause him to avoid the upcoming French Open 2026 as well. The Spaniard's absence, however, presents Sinner with an opportunity to win his record fifth straight Masters title following his victories in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo. The Italian, however, acknowledges that it will not be same without Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic who is also not participating in the tournament. Alcaraz and Sinner have become the top tennis players in the last couple of years as Djokovic, only one still playing from Big Three (Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer), continues to search for his elusive 25th grand slam title. Sinner not happy about Alcaraz not playing in Madrid Open "It’s a very tough thing for the tournament,” said Sinner about Alcaraz's absence as reported by the Guardian. "Last year he didn’t play, so twice in a row is tough. And also Novak [Djokovic] is not here, it’s tough to swallow for the tournament. It is always different when Carlos and Novak are not in the draw. I would say [this situation is] unique because we have shared since last year a lot of tournaments." Also Read - Cafu backs Brazil to end World Cup drought; tips 2026 edition as best chance Why Alcaraz may not play French Open Alcaraz shared the injury details while receiving Laureus Sportsperson of the Year award for 2025 in Madrid on Monday (Apr 20). He said that he'll be looking to preserving his health instead of rushing back, given he's only 22 and has lot of future ahead of him. "I have a long career ahead of me. Forcing for Roland Garros could penalise me enormously in the future. We’ll see what the tests show. But I prefer to come back a bit later rather than rush," Alcaraz said when asked if he'll play at the Roland Garros. If Alcaraz indeed doesn't play French Open 2026, the tournament his has won two consecutive times in 2024 and 2025, it'll give Sinner a great chance to complete his career grand slam. Sinner has already won Australia Open (2024 & 2025), Wimbledon (2025), and US Open (2024).

Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament owing to a right wrist injury which may cause him to avoid the French Open as well. His absence, however, presents Sinner with an opportunity to win record fifth straight Masters title following his victories in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo.

'Tough for tournament', says Sinner on Alcaraz withdrawing from Madrid Open

Former Australia skipper Aaron Finch has hit out at Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Axar Patel for his bowling choices in loss vs SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2026 on Tuesday (Apr 21) in Hyderabad. DC lost the match by 47 runs after failing to chase 242 which was set up by Abhishek Sharma's 135 not out off 68 balls. Finch said Axar didn't trust himself to bowl against left-hand batters (SRH top 3) and that it was an attitude issue rather anything else. Axar, winner of 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup, bowled only two overs in the match, giving away 23 runs and taking the wicket of Travis Head.<h2>Finch calls out Axar's attitude issue vs left handers in SRH match</h2>"It's the responsibility of your captain, your senior player, your retained player, your best bowler, Indian bowler, he's one of your core bowlers in the Indian cricket team. That's no small bit. He's a double World Cup winner. So the fact that he doesn't trust himself to execute under pressure and to defend himself against any left-handers - as soon as a left-hander walks to the crease, not for me today, thanks. To me that says more about his attitude towards it than anything else," Finch said while speaking on ESPNCricinfo's TimeOut.<h2>DC's bizarre bowling choices vs SRH</h2>With Abhishek Sharma in full song, DC, having two world class spinner in Axar and Kuldeep Yadav, made part-timer Nitish Rana bowl four overs. The idea was taking the ball away from left-handers which didn't work as effectively with Rana going for 55 runs in four overs without a wicket. Axar and Kuldeep, on the other hand, bowled two overs each for 23 and 30 runs, respectively but still should have completed their quota ahead of Rana.

Finch said Axar didn't trust himself to bowl against left-hand batters (SRH top 3) and that it was an attitude issue rather anything else. Axar, winner of 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup, bowled only two overs in the match, giving away 23 runs and taking the wicket of Travis Head.

Former Australia skipper Aaron Finch has hit out at Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Axar Patel for his bowling choices in loss vs SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2026 on Tuesday (Apr 21) in Hyderabad. DC lost the match by 47 runs after failing to chase 242 which was set up by Abhishek Sharma's 135 not out off 68 balls. Finch said Axar didn't trust himself to bowl against left-hand batters (SRH top 3) and that it was an attitude issue rather anything else. Axar, winner of 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup, bowled only two overs in the match, giving away 23 runs and taking the wicket of Travis Head. Finch calls out Axar's attitude issue vs left handers in SRH match "It's the responsibility of your captain, your senior player, your retained player, your best bowler, Indian bowler, he's one of your core bowlers in the Indian cricket team. That's no small bit. He's a double World Cup winner. So the fact that he doesn't trust himself to execute under pressure and to defend himself against any left-handers - as soon as a left-hander walks to the crease, not for me today, thanks. To me that says more about his attitude towards it than anything else," Finch said while speaking on ESPNCricinfo's TimeOut. DC's bizarre bowling choices vs SRH With Abhishek Sharma in full song, DC, having two world class spinner in Axar and Kuldeep Yadav, made part-timer Nitish Rana bowl four overs. The idea was taking the ball away from left-handers which didn't work as effectively with Rana going for 55 runs in four overs without a wicket. Axar and Kuldeep, on the other hand, bowled two overs each for 23 and 30 runs, respectively but still should have completed their quota ahead of Rana.

Finch said Axar didn't trust himself to bowl against left-hand batters (SRH top 3) and that it was an attitude issue rather anything else. Axar, winner of 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup, bowled only two overs in the match, giving away 23 runs and taking the wicket of Travis Head.

IPL 2026 | 'Doesn't trust himself:' Ex-AUS skipper Finch calls out DC captain Axar Patel's attitude issue

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IPL | 'Doesn't trust himself:' Finch calls out DC captain Axar's attitude issue